The Town FilesStephens City, Virginia
Town in Frederick County · population 2,016 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $325,100
- Household income
- $102,593
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.9
Stephens City is a town of 2,016 people in Frederick County, Virginia. The median home is worth $325,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 91% of Virginia towns.
How Stephens City 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 Stephens City is worth $325,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $102,593, which is more affordable than 75% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,210 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stephens City | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $325,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,210 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $102,593 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Stephens City
| People | Stephens City | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 43.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Stephens City
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephens City since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 17, 2004 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 23, 1999.
Severe weather in Frederick County since 1996
Frederick County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 Frederick County
Frederick County had 39,388 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,069 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Stephens City itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Stephens City
3 public schools with 3,061 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherando High | 9-12 | 1,642 | 14.3 |
| Robert E. Aylor Middle | 6-8 | 798 | 12.5 |
| Bass-Hoover Elementary | PK-5 | 621 | 16.3 |
Towns near Stephens City
- Middletown, VA5.6 mi · 1,355 people · home $331,600
- Winchester, VA6.0 mi · 28,120 people · home $343,000
- Boyce, VA8.5 mi · 749 people · home $425,000
- Strasburg, VA9.4 mi · 7,083 people · home $269,100
- Shawneeland, VA9.9 mi · 2,248 people · home $272,900
- Shenandoah Shores, VA10.0 mi · 1,112 people · home $273,900
- Front Royal, VA11.8 mi · 15,011 people · home $314,400
- Shenandoah Farms, VA12.3 mi · 4,135 people · home $280,700
Stephens City questions
Is Stephens City, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stephens City scores better for retirees than 61% of Virginia towns and quieter than 60%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Stephens City?
The median owner-occupied home in Stephens City is valued at $325,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,593, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,210 a month.
What is the weather like in Stephens City?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does Stephens City get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stephens City 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)