The Town FilesPiney Mountain, Virginia
Community in Albemarle County · population 1,880 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,000
- Household income
- $138,636
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 36.2
Piney Mountain is a community of 1,880 people in Albemarle County, Virginia. The median home is worth $296,000, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for families than 93% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 92% of Virginia towns, more upscale than 84% of Virginia towns.
How Piney Mountain 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 Piney Mountain is worth $296,000, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $138,636, which is more affordable than 95% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,685 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Piney Mountain | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,685 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $138,636 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 2010 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Piney Mountain
| People | Piney Mountain | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 28.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Piney Mountain
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Piney Mountain since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 25, 1985 about 2.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 4, 2002.
Severe weather in Albemarle County since 1996
Albemarle County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Albemarle County
Albemarle County had 64,815 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,866 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Piney Mountain itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Piney Mountain
- Hollymead, VA3.1 mi · 8,601 people · home $435,300
- Earlysville, VA3.2 mi · 1,153 people · home $478,400
- Ruckersville, VA4.9 mi · 1,484 people · home $407,800
- Twin Lakes, VA6.3 mi · 1,602 people · home $237,300
- Rio, VA6.6 mi · 2,076 people · home —
- Pantops, VA9.1 mi · 4,682 people · home $522,900
- Charlottesville, VA9.5 mi · 46,553 people · home $486,700
- University of Virginia, VA10.6 mi · 7,909 people · home $442,600
Piney Mountain questions
Is Piney Mountain, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Piney Mountain scores better for retirees than 92% of Virginia towns and quieter than 54%. 11.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Piney Mountain?
The median owner-occupied home in Piney Mountain is valued at $296,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $138,636, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,685 a month.
What is the weather like in Piney Mountain?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 14.8 inches of snow.
Does Piney Mountain get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Piney Mountain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 25, 1985. 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)