The Town FilesLorton, Virginia
Community in Fairfax County · population 20,072 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $626,500
- Household income
- $138,685
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 35.9
Lorton is a community of 20,072 people in Fairfax County, Virginia. The median home is worth $626,500, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better transit than 95% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 85% of Virginia towns.
How Lorton 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 Lorton is worth $626,500, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $138,685, which is more affordable than 26% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $2,548 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lorton | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $626,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $2,548 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $138,685 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lorton
| People | Lorton | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 12.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 32.7% | — |
| Work from home | 24.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Lorton
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lorton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 24, 2001 about 5.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 11, 2004.
Severe weather in Fairfax County since 1996
Fairfax County has been included in 19 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 |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Fairfax County
Fairfax County had 636,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $114,100 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Lorton itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Lorton
5 public schools with 5,196 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South County High | 9-12 | 2,200 | 15.8 |
| South County Middle | 7-8 | 967 | 13.4 |
| Lorton Station Elementary | PK-6 | 748 | 15.6 |
| Laurel Hill Elementary | PK-6 | 736 | 17.5 |
| Gunston Elementary | PK-6 | 545 | 14.7 |
Towns near Lorton
- Laurel Hill, VA1.5 mi · 8,307 people · home $696,000
- Newington, VA2.6 mi · 13,223 people · home $598,000
- Newington Forest, VA2.9 mi · 12,957 people · home $592,200
- Crosspointe, VA3.1 mi · 5,722 people · home $951,400
- Fort Belvoir, VA4.0 mi · 7,637 people · home —
- Woodbridge, VA4.5 mi · 44,668 people · home $422,400
- South Run, VA4.6 mi · 6,462 people · home $978,500
- Lake Ridge, VA4.9 mi · 46,162 people · home $471,200
Lorton questions
Is Lorton, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lorton scores better for retirees than 24% of Virginia towns and quieter than 5%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Lorton?
The median owner-occupied home in Lorton is valued at $626,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $138,685, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $2,548 a month.
What is the weather like in Lorton?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.4 inches of snow.
Does Lorton get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lorton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 24, 2001. 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)