The Town FilesHonaker, Virginia
Town in Russell County · population 1,217 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,600
- Household income
- $44,183
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 41.5
Honaker is a town of 1,217 people in Russell County, Virginia. The median home is worth $91,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 83% of Virginia towns, better for families than 72% of Virginia towns.
How Honaker ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Honaker is worth $91,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $44,183, which is more affordable than 95% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $548 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Honaker | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $548 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $44,183 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Honaker
| People | Honaker | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 38.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 55.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Honaker
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Honaker since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 8, 2009 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Russell County since 1996
Russell County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Russell County
Russell County had 6,150 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,286 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Honaker itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Honaker
5 public schools with 1,461 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honaker Elementary | PK-7 | 626 | 13.9 |
| Honaker High | 8-12 | 437 | 14.6 |
| Council Elementary/Middle | PK-7 | 194 | 5.2 |
| Council High | 8-12 | 111 | 11.1 |
| Swords Creek Elementary | PK-7 | 93 | 9.3 |
Towns near Honaker
- Raven, VA8.1 mi · 1,988 people · home $88,800
- Richlands, VA10.1 mi · 5,261 people · home $111,000
- Lebanon, VA10.1 mi · 3,159 people · home $162,400
- Cedar Bluff, VA12.3 mi · 1,069 people · home $111,800
- Claypool Hill, VA12.5 mi · 1,699 people · home $166,400
- Allison Gap, VA12.8 mi · 610 people · home $69,900
- Saltville, VA14.9 mi · 1,824 people · home $96,600
- Dante, VA17.5 mi · 572 people · home $81,400
Honaker questions
Is Honaker, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Honaker scores better for retirees than 66% of Virginia towns and quieter than 83%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Honaker?
The median owner-occupied home in Honaker is valued at $91,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,183, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $548 a month.
What is the weather like in Honaker?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 12.4 inches of snow.
Does Honaker get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Honaker since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 8, 2009. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)