The Town FilesDahlgren, Virginia
Community in King George County · population 2,946 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $423,300
- Household income
- $110,057
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 34.1
Dahlgren is a community of 2,946 people in King George County, Virginia. The median home is worth $423,300, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Virginia towns, better for retirees than 82% of Virginia towns.
How Dahlgren 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 Dahlgren is worth $423,300, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $110,057, which is more affordable than 51% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,204 a month. 59.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dahlgren | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $423,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,204 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $110,057 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dahlgren
| People | Dahlgren | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 13.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 91.8% |
Weather in Dahlgren
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dahlgren 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 1.1 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 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 11, 2011.
Severe weather in King George County since 1996
King George County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| 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 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in King George County
King George County had 13,745 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $94,680 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Dahlgren itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Dahlgren
1 public school with 546 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potomac Elementary | K-5 | 546 | 15.2 |
Towns near Dahlgren
- Colonial Beach, VA6.6 mi · 3,908 people · home $268,200
- King George, VA7.8 mi · 4,970 people · home $380,500
- La Plata, MD14.8 mi · 10,159 people · home $428,400
- Bryans Road, MD18.2 mi · 8,650 people · home $377,300
- Indian Head, MD18.4 mi · 3,894 people · home $303,700
- Quantico Base, VA18.6 mi · 5,221 people · home —
- Aquia Harbour, VA18.9 mi · 6,836 people · home $461,000
- Bensville, MD19.0 mi · 15,288 people · home $521,300
Dahlgren questions
Is Dahlgren, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dahlgren scores better for retirees than 82% of Virginia towns and quieter than 59%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Dahlgren?
The median owner-occupied home in Dahlgren is valued at $423,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,057, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,204 a month.
What is the weather like in Dahlgren?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 12.5 inches of snow.
Does Dahlgren get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dahlgren 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)