The Town FilesHopewell, Virginia
City in Hopewell city · population 23,033 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,600
- Household income
- $54,729
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.5
Hopewell is a city of 23,033 people in Hopewell city, Virginia. The median home is worth $181,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 77% of Virginia towns.
How Hopewell 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 Hopewell is worth $181,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $54,729, which is more affordable than 71% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,106 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hopewell | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,106 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $54,729 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Hopewell
| People | Hopewell | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Hopewell
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 31.2°F. About 50.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hopewell since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 6, 1993 about 0.4 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 287 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 22, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2005.
Severe weather in Hopewell city since 1996
Hopewell city has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hopewell city
Hopewell city had 7,284 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,996 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Hopewell itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Hopewell
7 public schools with 3,944 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopewell High | 9-12 | 1,146 | 14.5 |
| Carter G. Woodson Middle | 6-8 | 818 | 13.2 |
| Patrick Copeland Elementary | K-5 | 596 | 14.5 |
| Dupont Elementary | K-5 | 574 | 13.0 |
| Harry E. James Elementary | K-5 | 501 | 11.9 |
| Woodlawn Pre-School Learning Center | PK-PK | 309 | 15.5 |
| New HOPE Academy | Other | — | — |
Towns near Hopewell
- Enon, VA2.8 mi · 4,075 people · home $253,600
- Colonial Heights, VA5.7 mi · 18,170 people · home $246,600
- Ettrick, VA7.9 mi · 7,241 people · home $211,200
- Petersburg, VA7.9 mi · 33,458 people · home $189,000
- Chester, VA8.5 mi · 23,414 people · home $327,200
- Matoaca, VA10.1 mi · 2,655 people · home $251,000
- Bellwood, VA11.0 mi · 7,678 people · home $225,300
- Bensley, VA13.5 mi · 5,971 people · home $218,500
Hopewell questions
Is Hopewell, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hopewell scores better for retirees than 6% of Virginia towns and quieter than 15%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Hopewell?
The median owner-occupied home in Hopewell is valued at $181,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,729, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,106 a month.
What is the weather like in Hopewell?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 31.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Hopewell get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hopewell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 6, 1993. 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)