The Town FilesOnley, Virginia
Town in Accomack County · population 532 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $323,100
- Household income
- $57,837
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 33.1
Onley is a town of 532 people in Accomack County, Virginia. The median home is worth $323,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 74% of Virginia towns, quieter than 71% of Virginia towns.
How Onley 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 Onley is worth $323,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $57,837, which is more affordable than 8% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $908 a month. 66.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onley | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $908 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $57,837 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.2% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Onley
| People | Onley | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 25.8% | — |
| Work from home | 17.9% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Onley
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 30.4°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.9 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onley since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 2, 1973 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 14, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 25, 2017.
Severe weather in Accomack County since 1996
Accomack County has been included in 20 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 |
| November 26, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4092: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Accomack County
Accomack County had 13,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,649 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Onley itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Onley
3 public schools with 1,100 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nandua High | 9-12 | 632 | 9.6 |
| Nandua Middle | 6-8 | 468 | 10.9 |
| Badger Vocational Education Center - South | Other | — | — |
Towns near Onley
- Onancock, VA1.9 mi · 1,169 people · home $294,400
- Accomac, VA3.3 mi · 519 people · home $251,500
- Pastoria, VA5.8 mi · 627 people · home $116,200
- Parksley, VA7.4 mi · 816 people · home $163,100
- Belle Haven, VA11.1 mi · 543 people · home $183,000
- Exmore, VA12.7 mi · 1,473 people · home $152,400
- Nassawadox, VA16.8 mi · 533 people · home $152,500
- Atlantic, VA18.6 mi · 808 people · home $252,000
Onley questions
Is Onley, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onley scores better for retirees than 63% of Virginia towns and quieter than 71%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.1).
How much does a house cost in Onley?
The median owner-occupied home in Onley is valued at $323,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,837, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $908 a month.
What is the weather like in Onley?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 30.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 6.9 inches of snow.
Does Onley get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 2, 1973. 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)