The Town FilesRiverview, Virginia
Community in Wise County · population 616 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $38,500
- Household income
- $43,542
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 38.0
Riverview is a community of 616 people in Wise County, Virginia. The median home is worth $38,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050).
How Riverview 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 Riverview is worth $38,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 0.9 times the median household income of $43,542, which is more affordable than 100% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $770 a month. 75.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riverview | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $38,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $770 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $43,542 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riverview
| People | Riverview | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 28.5% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 58.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Riverview
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Riverview since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on April 9, 2011 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Wise County since 1996
Wise County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Wise County
Wise County had 10,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,985 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Riverview itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Towns near Riverview
- Coeburn, VA1.3 mi · 1,598 people · home $112,600
- Wise, VA6.2 mi · 2,971 people · home $144,700
- Norton, VA7.8 mi · 3,687 people · home $110,000
- St. Paul, VA9.4 mi · 866 people · home $176,100
- Castlewood, VA11.0 mi · 1,704 people · home $157,300
- Dante, VA11.7 mi · 572 people · home $81,400
- Big Stone Gap East, VA14.8 mi · 687 people · home $168,100
- East Stone Gap, VA15.0 mi · 537 people · home $114,000
Riverview questions
Is Riverview, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riverview scores better for retirees than 15% of Virginia towns and quieter than 37%. 37.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Riverview?
The median owner-occupied home in Riverview is valued at $38,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,542, so homes cost about 0.9 times income. Median rent is $770 a month.
What is the weather like in Riverview?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 47.1 inches of snow.
Does Riverview get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Riverview since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on April 9, 2011. 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)