The Town FilesSouth Riding, Virginia
Community in Loudoun County · population 33,877 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $746,200
- Household income
- $196,403
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 38.5
South Riding is a community of 33,877 people in Loudoun County, Virginia. The median home is worth $746,200, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Virginia towns, more upscale than 93% of Virginia towns, better for families than 85% of Virginia towns.
How South Riding 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 South Riding is worth $746,200, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $196,403, which is more affordable than 51% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $2,905 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Riding | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $746,200 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $2,905 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $196,403 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Riding
| People | South Riding | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 6.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 35.3% | — |
| Work from home | 30.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 99.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in South Riding
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 25.2°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.0 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Riding since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 17, 2004 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 103 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on July 2, 1968.
Severe weather in Loudoun County since 1996
Loudoun County has been included in 16 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 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 Loudoun County
Loudoun County had 198,113 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,788 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in South Riding itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in South Riding
4 public schools with 4,207 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | 9-12 | 1,968 | 14.0 |
| Liberty Elementary | PK-5 | 871 | 14.3 |
| Little River Elementary | PK-5 | 708 | 13.4 |
| Hutchison Farm Elementary | PK-5 | 660 | 12.9 |
Towns near South Riding
- Stone Ridge, VA2.4 mi · 15,039 people · home $672,800
- Chantilly, VA4.1 mi · 24,301 people · home $663,600
- Loudoun Valley Estates, VA4.8 mi · 11,436 people · home $814,200
- Brambleton, VA4.9 mi · 23,486 people · home $865,800
- Bull Run, VA5.1 mi · 6,972 people · home $918,700
- Floris, VA5.7 mi · 8,341 people · home $872,800
- McNair, VA6.0 mi · 21,598 people · home $595,800
- Moorefield, VA6.1 mi · 4,421 people · home $800,200
South Riding questions
Is South Riding, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Riding scores better for retirees than 15% of Virginia towns and quieter than 11%. 6.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in South Riding?
The median owner-occupied home in South Riding is valued at $746,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $196,403, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $2,905 a month.
What is the weather like in South Riding?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 25.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 21.0 inches of snow.
Does South Riding get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Riding since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 17, 2004. 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)