The Town FilesColonial Beach, Virginia
Town in Westmoreland County · population 3,908 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $268,200
- Household income
- $60,513
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 46.0
Colonial Beach is a town of 3,908 people in Westmoreland County, Virginia. The median home is worth $268,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Virginia towns, hipper than 97% of Virginia towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Virginia towns.
How Colonial Beach 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 Colonial Beach is worth $268,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $60,513, which is more affordable than 28% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $620 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colonial Beach | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $268,200 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $620 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $60,513 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.0% | — |
Who lives in Colonial Beach
| People | Colonial Beach | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 15.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 40.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Colonial Beach
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 26.3°F. About 44.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colonial Beach since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 5, 1979 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 5, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 12, 2011.
Severe weather in Westmoreland County since 1996
Westmoreland County has been included in 25 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 |
| March 11, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4644: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
Jobs and pay in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County had 3,218 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,691 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Colonial Beach itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Colonial Beach
3 public schools with 992 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington District Elementary | PK-5 | 387 | 11.7 |
| Colonial Beach Elementary | PK-7 | 379 | 18.0 |
| Colonial Beach High | 8-12 | 226 | 22.6 |
Towns near Colonial Beach
- Dahlgren, VA6.6 mi · 2,946 people · home $423,300
- King George, VA10.4 mi · 4,970 people · home $380,500
- La Plata, MD19.3 mi · 10,159 people · home $428,400
- Leonardtown, MD19.4 mi · 4,563 people · home $575,300
- Golden Beach, MD22.2 mi · 3,651 people · home $382,700
- Bensville, MD24.1 mi · 15,288 people · home $521,300
- Bryans Road, MD24.1 mi · 8,650 people · home $377,300
- Waldorf, MD24.2 mi · 81,410 people · home $407,600
Colonial Beach questions
Is Colonial Beach, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colonial Beach scores better for retirees than 60% of Virginia towns and quieter than 47%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Colonial Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Colonial Beach is valued at $268,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,513, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $620 a month.
What is the weather like in Colonial Beach?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 26.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Colonial Beach get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colonial Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 5, 1979. 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)