The Town FilesRiner, Virginia
Community in Montgomery County · population 949 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $388,000
- Household income
- $105,759
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 42.3
Riner is a community of 949 people in Montgomery County, Virginia. The median home is worth $388,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 100% of Virginia towns, quieter than 99% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Virginia towns.
How Riner 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 Riner is worth $388,000, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $105,759, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. 91.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riner | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $388,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $105,759 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riner
| People | Riner | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 91.8% |
Weather in Riner
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 23.4°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riner since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 31, 2021 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 31, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 5, 1996.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 24 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 |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 43,202 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,810 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Riner itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Riner
3 public schools with 1,256 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn Elementary | PK-5 | 561 | 15.2 |
| Auburn High | 9-12 | 387 | 11.4 |
| Auburn Middle | 6-8 | 308 | 12.3 |
Towns near Riner
- Plum Creek, VA5.4 mi · 1,350 people · home —
- Christiansburg, VA5.5 mi · 23,348 people · home $252,600
- Radford, VA7.5 mi · 16,070 people · home $220,700
- Fairlawn, VA7.8 mi · 2,419 people · home $243,500
- Belview, VA7.9 mi · 1,128 people · home —
- Merrimac, VA8.9 mi · 2,858 people · home —
- Prices Fork, VA10.0 mi · 1,142 people · home $300,000
- Blacksburg, VA11.4 mi · 44,826 people · home $446,300
Riner questions
Is Riner, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riner scores better for retirees than 80% of Virginia towns and quieter than 99%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Riner?
The median owner-occupied home in Riner is valued at $388,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $105,759, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Riner?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 23.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 21.7 inches of snow.
Does Riner get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 31, 2021. 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)