The Town FilesBlackstone, Virginia
Town in Nottoway County · population 3,352 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,900
- Household income
- $54,570
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.6
Blackstone is a town of 3,352 people in Nottoway County, Virginia. The median home is worth $140,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Virginia towns.
How Blackstone 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 Blackstone is worth $140,900, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $54,570, which is more affordable than 89% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,123 a month. 58.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Blackstone | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,900 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,123 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $54,570 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.4% | — |
Who lives in Blackstone
| People | Blackstone | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Blackstone
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 26.5°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blackstone since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 22, 1983 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 29, 1999.
Severe weather in Nottoway County since 1996
Nottoway County has been included in 22 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 Nottoway County
Nottoway County had 5,406 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,671 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Blackstone itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Blackstone
1 public school with 373 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone Primary | PK-4 | 373 | 12.9 |
Towns near Blackstone
- South Hill, VA25.6 mi · 4,690 people · home $242,700
- Farmville, VA26.4 mi · 7,473 people · home $238,900
- Woodlake, VA29.4 mi · 7,493 people · home $406,800
Blackstone questions
Is Blackstone, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Blackstone scores better for retirees than 49% of Virginia towns and quieter than 61%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Blackstone?
The median owner-occupied home in Blackstone is valued at $140,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,570, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,123 a month.
What is the weather like in Blackstone?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 26.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Blackstone get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Blackstone since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 22, 1983. 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)