The Town FilesSaluda, Virginia
Community in Middlesex County · population 627 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,800
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.1
Saluda is a community of 627 people in Middlesex County, Virginia. The median home is worth $263,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 97% of Virginia towns, more of a college town than 77% of Virginia towns.
How Saluda 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 Saluda is worth $263,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). 50.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saluda | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | — | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.0% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.4% | — |
Who lives in Saluda
| People | Saluda | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 10.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 1.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.1% | — |
| Work from home | 26.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | — min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 56.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Saluda
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 28.4°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 50 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 83 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saluda since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 11, 1981 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 7, 2008.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 3,389 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,498 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Saluda itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Saluda
2 public schools with 956 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex Elementary | PK-5 | 600 | 12.5 |
| Middlesex High | 9-12 | 356 | 11.5 |
Towns near Saluda
- West Point, VA12.0 mi · 3,414 people · home $286,800
- Kilmarnock, VA13.6 mi · 1,445 people · home $282,400
- Gloucester Courthouse, VA14.5 mi · 3,030 people · home $381,500
- Deltaville, VA15.0 mi · 1,057 people · home $404,500
- Mathews, VA18.4 mi · 525 people · home $193,400
- Gwynn, VA18.5 mi · 578 people · home $421,400
- New Kent, VA22.5 mi · 739 people · home $406,200
- Gloucester Point, VA23.7 mi · 10,587 people · home $320,700
Saluda questions
Is Saluda, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saluda scores better for retirees than 97% of Virginia towns and quieter than 68%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Saluda?
The median owner-occupied home in Saluda is valued at $263,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Saluda?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 28.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 8.5 inches of snow.
Does Saluda get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saluda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 11, 1981. 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)