The Town FilesTazewell, Virginia
Town in Tazewell County · population 4,486 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,700
- Household income
- $34,618
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 44.5
Tazewell is a town of 4,486 people in Tazewell County, Virginia. The median home is worth $111,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 87% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 75% of Virginia towns.
How Tazewell 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 Tazewell is worth $111,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $34,618, which is more affordable than 75% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $708 a month. 58.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tazewell | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $708 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $34,618 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Tazewell
| People | Tazewell | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Tazewell
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 20.9°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Tazewell since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 30, 2012.
Severe weather in Tazewell County since 1996
Tazewell County has been included in 25 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 |
| September 30, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4674: Flooding And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Tazewell County
Tazewell County had 13,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,784 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Tazewell itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Tazewell
5 public schools with 1,686 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tazewell High | 9-12 | 509 | 12.7 |
| Tazewell Primary | PK-2 | 435 | 15.5 |
| Tazewell Middle | 6-8 | 378 | 12.6 |
| Tazewell Intermediate | 3-5 | 364 | 17.3 |
| Tazewell County Career & Technical Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Tazewell
- Bluefield, VA14.7 mi · 5,096 people · home $152,500
- Richlands, VA17.0 mi · 5,261 people · home $111,000
- Bluefield, WV18.7 mi · 9,658 people · home $105,400
- Marion, VA20.2 mi · 5,751 people · home $172,500
- Welch, WV21.2 mi · 3,590 people · home $57,300
- Wytheville, VA26.1 mi · 8,265 people · home $196,800
- Princeton, WV28.0 mi · 5,872 people · home $120,300
Tazewell questions
Is Tazewell, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tazewell scores better for retirees than 75% of Virginia towns and quieter than 66%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Tazewell?
The median owner-occupied home in Tazewell is valued at $111,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,618, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $708 a month.
What is the weather like in Tazewell?
July highs average 78.8°F and January lows 20.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Tazewell get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Tazewell in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)