The Town FilesSandston, Virginia
Community in Henrico County · population 7,779 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $219,900
- Household income
- $59,238
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 39.3
Sandston is a community of 7,779 people in Henrico County, Virginia. The median home is worth $219,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more vibrant than 79% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 70% of Virginia towns.
How Sandston 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 Sandston is worth $219,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $59,238, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,211 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sandston | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,900 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,211 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $59,238 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sandston
| People | Sandston | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 91.8% |
Weather in Sandston
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.8°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sandston since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 29, 1984 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 17, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 5, 2004.
Severe weather in Henrico County since 1996
Henrico County has been included in 22 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 |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Henrico County
Henrico County had 187,647 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,541 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Sandston itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Sandston
4 public schools with 1,847 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elko Middle | 6-8 | 705 | 13.3 |
| Cashell Donahoe Elementary | PK-5 | 532 | 14.8 |
| Seven Pines Elementary | PK-5 | 425 | 15.2 |
| Sandston Elementary | PK-5 | 185 | 12.3 |
Towns near Sandston
- Highland Springs, VA2.8 mi · 16,604 people · home $227,300
- Montrose, VA3.4 mi · 7,909 people · home $194,100
- East Highland Park, VA6.0 mi · 15,131 people · home $229,200
- Mechanicsville, VA8.4 mi · 39,482 people · home $351,000
- Bensley, VA8.6 mi · 5,971 people · home $218,500
- Richmond, VA9.0 mi · 226,610 people · home $353,000
- Bellwood, VA10.0 mi · 7,678 people · home $225,300
- Chamberlayne, VA10.1 mi · 5,581 people · home $351,100
Sandston questions
Is Sandston, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sandston scores better for retirees than 7% of Virginia towns and quieter than 40%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Sandston?
The median owner-occupied home in Sandston is valued at $219,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,238, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,211 a month.
What is the weather like in Sandston?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 28.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 8.8 inches of snow.
Does Sandston get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sandston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 29, 1984. 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)