The Town FilesSugar Grove, Virginia
Community in Smyth County · population 610 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $56,400
- Household income
- $45,676
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 42.9
Sugar Grove is a community of 610 people in Smyth County, Virginia. The median home is worth $56,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Virginia towns, quieter than 85% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 72% of Virginia towns.
How Sugar Grove 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 Sugar Grove is worth $56,400, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $45,676, which is more affordable than 100% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sugar Grove | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $56,400 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $744 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $45,676 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sugar Grove
| People | Sugar Grove | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 34.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Sugar Grove
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sugar Grove since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 26, 2024.
Severe weather in Smyth County since 1996
Smyth County has been included in 21 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 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 Smyth County
Smyth County had 11,649 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,271 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Sugar Grove itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Sugar Grove
1 public school with 100 students, about 9.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Grove Elementary | PK-5 | 100 | 9.1 |
Towns near Sugar Grove
- Atkins, VA7.3 mi · 1,121 people · home $86,200
- Marion, VA8.3 mi · 5,751 people · home $172,500
- Adwolf, VA11.0 mi · 1,658 people · home $143,500
- Rural Retreat, VA12.1 mi · 1,546 people · home $185,800
- Seven Mile Ford, VA13.3 mi · 664 people · home $173,300
- Chilhowie, VA15.8 mi · 1,654 people · home $153,600
- Independence, VA16.7 mi · 1,011 people · home $122,400
- Glade Spring, VA20.6 mi · 1,367 people · home $174,300
Sugar Grove questions
Is Sugar Grove, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sugar Grove scores better for retirees than 72% of Virginia towns and quieter than 85%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Sugar Grove?
The median owner-occupied home in Sugar Grove is valued at $56,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,676, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Sugar Grove?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 8.5 inches of snow.
Does Sugar Grove get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sugar Grove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 27, 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)