The Town FilesCovington, Virginia
City in Covington city · population 5,737 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $83,500
- Household income
- $41,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.0
Covington is a city of 5,737 people in Covington city, Virginia. The median home is worth $83,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 87% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 86% of Virginia towns.
How Covington 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 Covington is worth $83,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $41,944, which is more affordable than 96% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Covington | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $83,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $794 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $41,944 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Covington
| People | Covington | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 91.8% |
Weather in Covington
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Covington since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 28, 2005.
Severe weather in Covington city since 1996
Covington city has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Covington city
Covington city had 3,728 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,912 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Covington itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Covington
6 public schools with 2,647 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany High | 9-12 | 831 | 12.8 |
| Covington Middle | 6-8 | 622 | 14.1 |
| Jeter-Watson Elementary | PK-5 | 502 | 13.2 |
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-5 | 435 | 11.8 |
| Callaghan Elementary | PK-5 | 257 | 13.5 |
| Jackson River Tech Ctr | Other | — | — |
Towns near Covington
- Clifton Forge, VA9.2 mi · 3,555 people · home $109,500
- Lewisburg, WV24.5 mi · 3,922 people · home $334,900
- Daleville, VA25.6 mi · 3,070 people · home $370,100
- Blue Ridge, VA29.1 mi · 3,185 people · home $274,500
- Lexington, VA29.5 mi · 7,320 people · home $275,200
- Cloverdale, VA29.7 mi · 3,410 people · home $359,900
Covington questions
Is Covington, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Covington scores better for retirees than 12% of Virginia towns and quieter than 31%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Covington?
The median owner-occupied home in Covington is valued at $83,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,944, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in Covington?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 10.1 inches of snow.
Does Covington get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Covington in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)