The Town FilesBlacksburg, Virginia
Town in Montgomery County · population 44,826 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $446,300
- Household income
- $50,182
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 21.9
Blacksburg is a town of 44,826 people in Montgomery County, Virginia. The median home is worth $446,300, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Virginia towns, more of a college town than 96% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 89% of Virginia towns.
How Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg is worth $446,300, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 8.9 times the median household income of $50,182, which is more affordable than 0% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,359 a month. 35.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blacksburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $446,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,359 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $50,182 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 35.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Blacksburg
| People | Blacksburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 9.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 42.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.6% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Blacksburg
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 22.1°F. About 42.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blacksburg since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 31, 2021 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 31, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 14, 2011.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery 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 |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 43,202 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,810 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Blacksburg itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Blacksburg
7 public schools with 3,997 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg High | 9-12 | 1,281 | 14.6 |
| Blacksburg Middle | 6-8 | 987 | 14.3 |
| Prices Fork Elementary | PK-5 | 452 | 13.7 |
| Kipps Elementary | K-5 | 370 | 13.7 |
| Margaret Beeks Elementary | PK-5 | 313 | 11.6 |
| Gilbert Linkous Elementary | PK-5 | 312 | 12.0 |
| Harding Avenue Elementary | K-5 | 282 | 12.8 |
Towns near Blacksburg
- Merrimac, VA2.5 mi · 2,858 people · home —
- Christiansburg, VA6.4 mi · 23,348 people · home $252,600
- Radford, VA10.6 mi · 16,070 people · home $220,700
- Dublin, VA16.9 mi · 2,682 people · home $180,500
- Pearisburg, VA17.8 mi · 2,909 people · home $157,400
- Salem, VA20.8 mi · 25,346 people · home $258,600
- Pulaski, VA22.2 mi · 8,985 people · home $160,500
- Cave Spring, VA23.1 mi · 26,755 people · home $325,800
Blacksburg questions
Is Blacksburg, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blacksburg scores better for retirees than 25% of Virginia towns and quieter than 20%. 7.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.9).
How much does a house cost in Blacksburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Blacksburg is valued at $446,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,182, so homes cost about 8.9 times income. Median rent is $1,359 a month.
What is the weather like in Blacksburg?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 22.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.6 inches of precipitation a year and 24.7 inches of snow.
Does Blacksburg get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blacksburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 31, 2021. 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)