The Town FilesStaunton, Virginia
City in Staunton city · population 25,750 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $259,200
- Household income
- $65,581
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 39.9
Staunton is a city of 25,750 people in Staunton city, Virginia. The median home is worth $259,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 95% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 91% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 85% of Virginia towns.
How Staunton 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 Staunton is worth $259,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $65,581, which is more affordable than 42% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,024 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Staunton | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $259,200 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,024 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $65,581 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Staunton
| People | Staunton | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 91.8% |
Weather in Staunton
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 24.7°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.6 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Staunton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 29, 1963 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Staunton city since 1996
Staunton city has been included in 14 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Staunton city
Staunton city had 11,440 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Staunton itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Staunton
15 public schools with 4,532 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton High | 9-12 | 789 | 14.1 |
| Riverheads Elementary | PK-5 | 721 | 16.4 |
| Beverley Manor Middle | 6-8 | 612 | 12.0 |
| Shelburne Middle | 6-8 | 587 | 12.5 |
| Riverheads High | 9-12 | 447 | 13.1 |
| Thomas C. McSwain Elementary | K-5 | 429 | 13.8 |
| Bessie Weller Elementary | K-5 | 377 | 12.2 |
| Arthur R. Ware Elementary | K-5 | 370 | 11.6 |
| Staunton City School PreSchool Programs | PK-PK | 143 | 17.9 |
| Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind High | 9-12 | 34 | 2.8 |
| Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Middle | 6-8 | 16 | 4.0 |
| Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Elementary | PK-5 | 7 | 1.2 |
Towns near Staunton
- Verona, VA3.8 mi · 4,398 people · home $256,200
- Fishersville, VA5.6 mi · 9,629 people · home $348,900
- Stuarts Draft, VA9.7 mi · 12,142 people · home $294,300
- Waynesboro, VA10.7 mi · 22,196 people · home $245,500
- Weyers Cave, VA11.6 mi · 2,700 people · home $283,800
- Grottoes, VA15.0 mi · 2,899 people · home $275,700
- Bridgewater, VA16.8 mi · 6,596 people · home $384,700
- Massanetta Springs, VA20.6 mi · 6,384 people · home $467,700
Staunton questions
Is Staunton, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Staunton scores better for retirees than 70% of Virginia towns and quieter than 36%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Staunton?
The median owner-occupied home in Staunton is valued at $259,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,581, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,024 a month.
What is the weather like in Staunton?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 24.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.6 inches of precipitation a year and 21.6 inches of snow.
Does Staunton get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Staunton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 29, 1963. 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)