The Town FilesNorton, Virginia
City in Norton city · population 3,687 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,000
- Household income
- $41,495
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 41.3
Norton is a city of 3,687 people in Norton city, Virginia. The median home is worth $110,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 99% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 77% of Virginia towns.
How Norton 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 Norton is worth $110,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $41,495, which is more affordable than 87% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 50.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norton | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $692 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $41,495 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.0% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Norton
| People | Norton | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Norton
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 4, 2008 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2008.
Severe weather in Norton city since 1996
Norton 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 Norton city
Norton city had 3,064 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,715 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Norton itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Norton
3 public schools with 1,470 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High | 9-12 | 663 | 17.0 |
| Norton Elementary | PK-7 | 491 | 12.3 |
| J.I. Burton High | 8-12 | 316 | 13.2 |
Towns near Norton
- Wise, VA4.0 mi · 2,971 people · home $144,700
- Big Stone Gap, VA9.6 mi · 5,254 people · home $163,000
- Bloomingdale, TN25.0 mi · 8,918 people · home $165,500
- Mount Carmel, TN25.4 mi · 5,473 people · home $179,600
- Kingsport, TN28.8 mi · 55,442 people · home $234,100
- Church Hill, TN28.9 mi · 6,998 people · home $211,000
Norton questions
Is Norton, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norton scores better for retirees than 28% of Virginia towns and quieter than 39%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Norton?
The median owner-occupied home in Norton is valued at $110,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,495, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Norton?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 47.1 inches of snow.
Does Norton get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 4, 2008. 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)