The Town FilesPetersburg, Virginia
City in Petersburg city · population 33,458 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $189,000
- Household income
- $50,698
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 35.8
Petersburg is a city of 33,458 people in Petersburg city, Virginia. The median home is worth $189,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 88% of Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 78% of Virginia towns.
How Petersburg 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 Petersburg is worth $189,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $50,698, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,174 a month. 38.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Petersburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,174 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $50,698 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 38.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Petersburg
| People | Petersburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Petersburg
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 47.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petersburg since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 6, 1993 about 1.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 304 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 22, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2005.
Severe weather in Petersburg city since 1996
Petersburg city has been included in 17 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3359: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Petersburg city
Petersburg city had 11,753 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,542 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Petersburg itself the ACS puts it at 10%.
Public schools in Petersburg
11 public schools with 4,464 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg High | 9-12 | 1,171 | 15.2 |
| Vernon Johns Middle | 6-8 | 901 | 15.3 |
| Walnut Hill Elementary | K-5 | 539 | 13.8 |
| Cool Spring Elementary | K-5 | 529 | 14.3 |
| Pleasants Lane Elementary | K-5 | 515 | 13.6 |
| Westview Early Childhood Education Center | PK-PK | 405 | 16.9 |
| Lakemont Elementary | K-5 | 404 | 12.6 |
| Appomattox Regional Governor's School | Other | — | — |
| Petersburg Regional Alternative | Other | — | — |
| Southside Va Training Ctr | PK-12 | — | — |
| Central St. Hosp. Ed. Pr. | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near Petersburg
- Ettrick, VA3.6 mi · 7,241 people · home $211,200
- Colonial Heights, VA3.9 mi · 18,170 people · home $246,600
- Matoaca, VA4.6 mi · 2,655 people · home $251,000
- Hopewell, VA7.9 mi · 23,033 people · home $181,600
- Enon, VA9.3 mi · 4,075 people · home $253,600
- Chester, VA10.4 mi · 23,414 people · home $327,200
- Bellwood, VA14.1 mi · 7,678 people · home $225,300
- Meadowbrook, VA16.2 mi · 20,898 people · home $298,500
Petersburg questions
Is Petersburg, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Petersburg scores better for retirees than 10% of Virginia towns and quieter than 19%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Petersburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Petersburg is valued at $189,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,698, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,174 a month.
What is the weather like in Petersburg?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.0 inches of precipitation a year and 3.5 inches of snow.
Does Petersburg get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petersburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 6, 1993. 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)