The Town FilesWakefield, Virginia
Town in Sussex County · population 759 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $187,800
- Household income
- $62,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 30.6
Wakefield is a town of 759 people in Sussex County, Virginia. The median home is worth $187,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Virginia towns, hipper than 88% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Virginia towns.
How Wakefield 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 Wakefield is worth $187,800, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $62,386, which is more affordable than 81% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $966 a month. 69.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wakefield | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $187,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $966 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $62,386 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Wakefield
| People | Wakefield | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.6 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 14.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 39.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Wakefield
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 49.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1978 about 4.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 11 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 19, 2016.
Severe weather in Sussex County since 1996
Sussex County has been included in 18 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Sussex County
Sussex County had 3,215 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,408 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Wakefield itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Wakefield
- Waverly, VA7.4 mi · 1,955 people · home $145,700
- Sedley, VA13.3 mi · 517 people · home $214,500
- Windsor, VA17.6 mi · 2,746 people · home $280,800
- Courtland, VA18.2 mi · 1,295 people · home $235,600
- Rushmere, VA18.9 mi · 1,175 people · home $350,000
- Franklin, VA19.9 mi · 8,180 people · home $256,600
- Camptown, VA20.2 mi · 718 people · home —
- Smithfield, VA20.6 mi · 8,533 people · home $374,900
Wakefield questions
Is Wakefield, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wakefield scores better for retirees than 14% of Virginia towns and quieter than 58%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.6).
How much does a house cost in Wakefield?
The median owner-occupied home in Wakefield is valued at $187,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,386, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $966 a month.
What is the weather like in Wakefield?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.4 inches of snow.
Does Wakefield get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1978. 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)