The Town FilesTappahannock, Virginia
Town in Essex County · population 2,193 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,800
- Household income
- $46,816
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 44.9
Tappahannock is a town of 2,193 people in Essex County, Virginia. The median home is worth $218,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 93% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 86% of Virginia towns.
How Tappahannock 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 Tappahannock is worth $218,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $46,816, which is more affordable than 21% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $942 a month. 31.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tappahannock | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $942 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $46,816 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 31.0% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Tappahannock
| People | Tappahannock | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Tappahannock
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 28.5°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tappahannock since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 24, 2016 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 24, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 26, 2003.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 3,546 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,848 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Tappahannock itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Tappahannock
4 public schools with 1,163 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tappahannock Elementary | PK-4 | 422 | 14.1 |
| Essex High | 9-12 | 410 | 14.1 |
| James H. Cary Intermediate | 5-8 | 331 | 11.4 |
| Chesapeake Bay Governor's School | Other | — | — |
Towns near Tappahannock
- Warsaw, VA6.6 mi · 1,637 people · home $270,600
- Central Garage, VA18.2 mi · 1,810 people · home $294,000
- Cobb Island, MD24.3 mi · 929 people · home $275,000
- Piney Point, MD24.8 mi · 980 people · home $336,600
- West Point, VA25.1 mi · 3,414 people · home $286,800
- Colonial Beach, VA25.3 mi · 3,908 people · home $268,200
- Saluda, VA25.9 mi · 627 people · home $263,800
- Bowling Green, VA28.0 mi · 1,168 people · home $336,300
Tappahannock questions
Is Tappahannock, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tappahannock scores better for retirees than 86% of Virginia towns and quieter than 67%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Tappahannock?
The median owner-occupied home in Tappahannock is valued at $218,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,816, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $942 a month.
What is the weather like in Tappahannock?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 28.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Tappahannock get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tappahannock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 24, 2016. 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)