The Town FilesSt. Paul, Virginia
Town in Wise County · population 866 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $176,100
- Household income
- $33,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 41.1
St. Paul is a town of 866 people in Wise County, Virginia. The median home is worth $176,100, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks quieter than 83% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Virginia towns.
How St. Paul 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 St. Paul is worth $176,100, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $33,000, which is more affordable than 12% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $460 a month. 67.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Paul | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $460 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $33,000 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in St. Paul
| People | St. Paul | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in St. Paul
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 24.4°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.3 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Paul since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 24, 2011 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 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 St. Paul itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in St. Paul
1 public school with 542 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul Elementary | PK-8 | 542 | 12.9 |
Towns near St. Paul
- Castlewood, VA2.2 mi · 1,704 people · home $157,300
- Dante, VA5.7 mi · 572 people · home $81,400
- Coeburn, VA8.9 mi · 1,598 people · home $112,600
- Riverview, VA9.4 mi · 616 people · home $38,500
- Lebanon, VA13.2 mi · 3,159 people · home $162,400
- Wise, VA15.4 mi · 2,971 people · home $144,700
- Norton, VA17.2 mi · 3,687 people · home $110,000
- Clintwood, VA18.8 mi · 1,377 people · home $162,800
St. Paul questions
Is St. Paul, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Paul scores better for retirees than 58% of Virginia towns and quieter than 83%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in St. Paul?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Paul is valued at $176,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $33,000, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $460 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Paul?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 24.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 38.3 inches of snow.
Does St. Paul get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Paul since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 24, 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)