The Town FilesNorth Shore, Virginia
Community in Franklin County · population 3,332 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $504,400
- Household income
- $109,951
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 62.6
North Shore is a community of 3,332 people in Franklin County, Virginia. The median home is worth $504,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 100% of Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 100% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 98% of Virginia towns.
How North Shore 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 North Shore is worth $504,400, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $109,951, which is more affordable than 24% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,133 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Shore | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $504,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,133 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $109,951 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 42.9% | — |
Who lives in North Shore
| People | North Shore | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.6 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 44.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 9.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 29.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in North Shore
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 26.4°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.9 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Shore since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 9, 1996 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 5, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 19, 2017.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 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 |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 15,666 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,740 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in North Shore itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near North Shore
- Rocky Mount, VA14.1 mi · 4,903 people · home $207,000
- Vinton, VA18.7 mi · 8,059 people · home $190,900
- Bedford, VA19.2 mi · 6,657 people · home $222,500
- Altavista, VA20.3 mi · 3,378 people · home $142,900
- Roanoke, VA21.7 mi · 100,011 people · home $190,500
- Cave Spring, VA22.1 mi · 26,755 people · home $325,800
- Blue Ridge, VA22.6 mi · 3,185 people · home $274,500
- Cloverdale, VA23.5 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
North Shore questions
Is North Shore, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Shore scores better for retirees than 98% of Virginia towns and quieter than 100%. 44.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.6).
How much does a house cost in North Shore?
The median owner-occupied home in North Shore is valued at $504,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $109,951, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,133 a month.
What is the weather like in North Shore?
July highs average 86.6°F and January lows 26.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 5.9 inches of snow.
Does North Shore get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Shore since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 9, 1996. 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)