The Town FilesAltavista, Virginia
Town in Campbell County · population 3,378 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,900
- Household income
- $51,349
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 39.0
Altavista is a town of 3,378 people in Campbell County, Virginia. The median home is worth $142,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 90% of Virginia towns, hipper than 80% of Virginia towns.
How Altavista 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 Altavista is worth $142,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $51,349, which is more affordable than 85% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 55.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altavista | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,900 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $910 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $51,349 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Altavista
| People | Altavista | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Altavista
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.8°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altavista since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 25, 1977 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 17, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 6, 2023.
Severe weather in Campbell County since 1996
Campbell County has been included in 24 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 |
| 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 Campbell County
Campbell County had 18,480 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,594 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Altavista itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Altavista
2 public schools with 1,155 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altavista High | 6-12 | 634 | 12.9 |
| Altavista Elementary | PK-5 | 521 | 14.9 |
Towns near Altavista
- Timberlake, VA13.5 mi · 13,267 people · home $235,900
- Forest, VA17.4 mi · 11,709 people · home $319,800
- Bedford, VA19.6 mi · 6,657 people · home $222,500
- Lynchburg, VA19.6 mi · 79,009 people · home $229,800
- North Shore, VA20.3 mi · 3,332 people · home $504,400
- Madison Heights, VA24.6 mi · 10,893 people · home $191,300
Altavista questions
Is Altavista, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altavista scores better for retirees than 47% of Virginia towns and quieter than 51%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Altavista?
The median owner-occupied home in Altavista is valued at $142,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,349, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Altavista?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 25.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 9.1 inches of snow.
Does Altavista get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altavista since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 25, 1977. 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)