The Town FilesSedley, Virginia
Community in Southampton County · population 517 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,500
- Household income
- $86,304
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.5
Sedley is a community of 517 people in Southampton County, Virginia. The median home is worth $214,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 85% of Virginia towns.
How Sedley 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 Sedley is worth $214,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $86,304, which is more affordable than 91% of Virginia towns. 96.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sedley | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | — | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $86,304 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sedley
| People | Sedley | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 26.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 33.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Sedley
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.9 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sedley since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 4, 2020 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 2014.
Severe weather in Southampton County since 1996
Southampton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| 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 |
| November 2, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4291: Hurricane Matthew |
Jobs and pay in Southampton County
Southampton County had 3,588 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,968 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Sedley itself the ACS puts it at 13.1%.
Public schools in Sedley
1 public school with 249 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottoway Elementary | PK-5 | 249 | 11.9 |
Towns near Sedley
- Courtland, VA6.0 mi · 1,295 people · home $235,600
- Franklin, VA7.0 mi · 8,180 people · home $256,600
- Camptown, VA8.2 mi · 718 people · home —
- Southampton Meadows, VA13.2 mi · 503 people · home —
- Wakefield, VA13.3 mi · 759 people · home $187,800
- Windsor, VA14.1 mi · 2,746 people · home $280,800
- Boykins, VA18.0 mi · 516 people · home $192,000
- Waverly, VA18.7 mi · 1,955 people · home $145,700
Sedley questions
Is Sedley, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sedley scores better for retirees than 89% of Virginia towns and quieter than 66%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Sedley?
The median owner-occupied home in Sedley is valued at $214,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,304, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sedley?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 4.9 inches of snow.
Does Sedley get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sedley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020. 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)