The Town FilesWattsville, Virginia
Community in Accomack County · population 1,341 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,700
- Household income
- $69,380
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.3
Wattsville is a community of 1,341 people in Accomack County, Virginia. The median home is worth $184,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Virginia towns, more seaside character than 96% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 87% of Virginia towns.
How Wattsville 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 Wattsville is worth $184,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $69,380, which is more affordable than 87% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $983 a month. 65.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wattsville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $983 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $69,380 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Wattsville
| People | Wattsville | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Wattsville
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 43.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wattsville since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 4, 2020 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 5, 1960.
Severe weather in Accomack County since 1996
Accomack County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, 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 |
| November 26, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4092: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Accomack County
Accomack County had 13,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,649 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Wattsville itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Towns near Wattsville
- Atlantic, VA1.9 mi · 808 people · home $252,000
- Horntown, VA3.2 mi · 912 people · home $144,500
- Captains Cove, VA5.9 mi · 1,544 people · home $267,700
- Chincoteague, VA7.8 mi · 3,344 people · home $349,500
- Pocomoke City, MD9.9 mi · 4,295 people · home $199,000
- Parksley, VA13.2 mi · 816 people · home $163,100
- Pastoria, VA14.9 mi · 627 people · home $116,200
- Accomac, VA17.4 mi · 519 people · home $251,500
Wattsville questions
Is Wattsville, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wattsville scores better for retirees than 87% of Virginia towns and quieter than 75%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.3).
How much does a house cost in Wattsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Wattsville is valued at $184,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,380, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $983 a month.
What is the weather like in Wattsville?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.2 inches of precipitation a year and 8.4 inches of snow.
Does Wattsville get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wattsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020. 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)