The Town FilesIndependence, Virginia
Town in Grayson County · population 1,011 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,400
- Household income
- $39,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 58.4
Independence is a town of 1,011 people in Grayson County, Virginia. The median home is worth $122,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Virginia towns, quieter than 79% of Virginia towns.
How Independence 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 Independence is worth $122,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $39,286, which is more affordable than 78% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $668 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $668 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $39,286 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.3°F. About 57.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence 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 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 27, 2021.
Severe weather in Grayson County since 1996
Grayson 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 Grayson County
Grayson County had 3,415 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $37,811 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Independence
4 public schools with 1,053 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grayson County High | 9-12 | 457 | 13.1 |
| Independence Elementary | PK-5 | 301 | 13.7 |
| Independence Middle | 6-8 | 295 | 16.4 |
| Grayson County High Career & Technical Education | Other | — | — |
Towns near Independence
- Sparta, NC8.7 mi · 1,834 people · home $209,600
- Galax, VA13.3 mi · 6,720 people · home $141,300
- Sugar Grove, VA16.7 mi · 610 people · home $56,400
- Ivanhoe, VA17.9 mi · 501 people · home $95,500
- Woodlawn, VA20.3 mi · 2,045 people · home $146,700
- Rural Retreat, VA20.5 mi · 1,546 people · home $185,800
- Atkins, VA21.5 mi · 1,121 people · home $86,200
- Jefferson, NC22.8 mi · 1,622 people · home $236,000
Independence questions
Is Independence, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 77% of Virginia towns and quieter than 79%. 31.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.4).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $122,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,286, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $668 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.1 inches of precipitation a year and 15.1 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence 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)