The Town FilesPenhook, Virginia
Community in Franklin County · population 782 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $543,000
- Household income
- $108,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 51.2
Penhook is a community of 782 people in Franklin County, Virginia. The median home is worth $543,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 89% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 79% of Virginia towns.
How Penhook 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 Penhook is worth $543,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $108,750, which is more affordable than 15% of Virginia towns. 91.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Penhook | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $543,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $108,750 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 40.3% | — |
Who lives in Penhook
| People | Penhook | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 11.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.7% | — |
| Work from home | 32.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 41.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Penhook
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 8.0 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
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penhook 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 9.3 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 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 24, 2011.
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 Penhook itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Penhook
1 public school with 208 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 208 | 11.6 |
Towns near Penhook
- Union Hall, VA3.1 mi · 1,328 people · home $694,100
- North Shore, VA6.3 mi · 3,332 people · home $504,400
- Westlake Corner, VA9.3 mi · 1,553 people · home $499,000
- Henry Fork, VA12.9 mi · 1,120 people · home —
- Rocky Mount, VA13.7 mi · 4,903 people · home $207,000
- Gretna, VA15.5 mi · 1,310 people · home $138,800
- Motley, VA16.7 mi · 825 people · home $146,900
- Chatham, VA18.1 mi · 1,232 people · home $174,300
Penhook questions
Is Penhook, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Penhook scores better for retirees than 89% of Virginia towns and quieter than 76%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Penhook?
The median owner-occupied home in Penhook is valued at $543,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $108,750, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Penhook?
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 8.0 inches of snow.
Does Penhook get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penhook 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)