The Town FilesMartinsville, Virginia
City in Martinsville city · population 13,485 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,400
- Household income
- $46,727
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 38.4
Martinsville is a city of 13,485 people in Martinsville city, Virginia. The median home is worth $98,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 82% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 79% of Virginia towns.
How Martinsville 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 Martinsville is worth $98,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $46,727, which is more affordable than 95% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $808 a month. 55.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Martinsville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $808 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $46,727 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Martinsville
| People | Martinsville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Martinsville
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 47.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martinsville since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 12, 1964 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 26, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 7, 1955.
Severe weather in Martinsville city since 1996
Martinsville city has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
| October 15, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4401: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Martinsville city
Martinsville city had 9,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,459 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Martinsville itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Martinsville
12 public schools with 4,181 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Park Middle | 6-8 | 743 | 12.6 |
| Meadow View Elementary | PK-5 | 647 | 15.4 |
| Martinsville High | 9-12 | 558 | 14.0 |
| G.W. Carver Elementary | PK-5 | 451 | 15.0 |
| Albert Harris Elementary | K-5 | 402 | 11.8 |
| Martinsville Middle | 6-8 | 389 | 11.4 |
| Patrick Henry Elementary | K-5 | 344 | 12.3 |
| Rich Acres Elementary | PK-5 | 270 | 15.0 |
| Mount Olivet Elementary | PK-5 | 263 | 15.5 |
| Clearview Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 114 | 12.7 |
| Piedmont Governor's School | Other | — | — |
| Breaking Barriers Alternative Ed/Henry Co | Other | — | — |
Towns near Martinsville
- Collinsville, VA3.7 mi · 7,380 people · home $146,700
- Eden, NC14.2 mi · 15,421 people · home $120,700
- Wentworth, NC20.4 mi · 2,662 people · home $170,300
- Rocky Mount, VA22.2 mi · 4,903 people · home $207,000
- Mount Hermon, VA24.5 mi · 4,057 people · home $211,600
- Reidsville, NC26.0 mi · 14,583 people · home $138,800
- Danville, VA26.2 mi · 42,590 people · home $119,100
Martinsville questions
Is Martinsville, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Martinsville scores better for retirees than 26% of Virginia towns and quieter than 30%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Martinsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Martinsville is valued at $98,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,727, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $808 a month.
What is the weather like in Martinsville?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 9.4 inches of snow.
Does Martinsville get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martinsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 12, 1964. 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)