The Town FilesChincoteague, Virginia
Town in Accomack County · population 3,344 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $349,500
- Household income
- $62,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 57.4
Chincoteague is a town of 3,344 people in Accomack County, Virginia. The median home is worth $349,500, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Virginia towns, more seaside character than 99% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 99% of Virginia towns.
How Chincoteague 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 Chincoteague is worth $349,500, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.6 times the median household income of $62,917, which is more affordable than 8% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,081 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chincoteague | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $349,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,081 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $62,917 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.6× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 54.0% | — |
Who lives in Chincoteague
| People | Chincoteague | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.4 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.0% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Chincoteague
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
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chincoteague 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 6.7 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 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 31, 2025.
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 Chincoteague itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Chincoteague
2 public schools with 522 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chincoteague High | 6-12 | 296 | 11.0 |
| Chincoteague Elementary | PK-5 | 226 | 12.6 |
Towns near Chincoteague
- Pocomoke City, MD13.7 mi · 4,295 people · home $199,000
- Princess Anne, MD25.7 mi · 3,446 people · home $231,900
- Berlin, MD27.4 mi · 5,026 people · home $423,500
- Fruitland, MD29.6 mi · 5,534 people · home $227,200
Chincoteague questions
Is Chincoteague, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chincoteague scores better for retirees than 96% of Virginia towns and quieter than 56%. 37.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.4).
How much does a house cost in Chincoteague?
The median owner-occupied home in Chincoteague is valued at $349,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,917, so homes cost about 5.6 times income. Median rent is $1,081 a month.
What is the weather like in Chincoteague?
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 Chincoteague get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chincoteague 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)