The Town FilesOpal, Virginia
Community in Fauquier County · population 678 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $625,800
- Household income
- $181,932
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 27.7
Opal is a community of 678 people in Fauquier County, Virginia. The median home is worth $625,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for families than 88% of Virginia towns, more of a college town than 72% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 72% of Virginia towns.
How Opal 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 Opal is worth $625,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $181,932, which is more affordable than 69% of Virginia towns. 98.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Opal | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $625,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $181,932 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.7% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Opal
| People | Opal | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.4% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 41.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Opal
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.3 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Opal since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 17, 2004 about 1.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 2, 2000.
Severe weather in Fauquier County since 1996
Fauquier 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 |
| March 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Fauquier County
Fauquier County had 23,810 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,376 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Opal itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Opal
- Bealeton, VA2.8 mi · 5,882 people · home $388,400
- Remington, VA5.6 mi · 626 people · home $324,200
- Warrenton, VA7.1 mi · 10,057 people · home $478,300
- New Baltimore, VA10.1 mi · 11,251 people · home $698,000
- Nokesville, VA13.7 mi · 1,619 people · home $592,900
- Culpeper, VA14.4 mi · 20,062 people · home $390,000
- Gainesville, VA15.2 mi · 18,112 people · home $712,600
- Linton Hall, VA15.8 mi · 41,754 people · home $617,000
Opal questions
Is Opal, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Opal scores better for retirees than 44% of Virginia towns and quieter than 53%. 5.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.7).
How much does a house cost in Opal?
The median owner-occupied home in Opal is valued at $625,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $181,932, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Opal?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 20.3 inches of snow.
Does Opal get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Opal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 17, 2004. 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)