The Town FilesPoquoson, Virginia
City in Poquoson city · population 12,460 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $400,300
- Household income
- $120,972
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 41.2
Poquoson is a city of 12,460 people in Poquoson city, Virginia. The median home is worth $400,300, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more seaside character than 99% of Virginia towns, better for families than 89% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 88% of Virginia towns.
How Poquoson 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 Poquoson is worth $400,300, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $120,972, which is more affordable than 71% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,707 a month. 84.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Poquoson | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $400,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,707 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $120,972 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.6% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Poquoson
| People | Poquoson | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 15.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Poquoson
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 32.1°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poquoson since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 4, 1999 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 11, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 13, 1998.
Severe weather in Poquoson city since 1996
Poquoson city has been included in 18 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 Poquoson city
Poquoson city had 1,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,583 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Poquoson itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Poquoson
4 public schools with 2,038 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poquoson High | 9-12 | 669 | 9.4 |
| Poquoson Middle | 6-8 | 487 | 21.2 |
| Poquoson Elementary | 3-5 | 452 | 16.7 |
| Poquoson Primary | PK-2 | 430 | 15.4 |
Towns near Poquoson
- Hampton, VA5.6 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Bethel Manor, VA7.0 mi · 4,540 people · home —
- Newport News, VA12.6 mi · 186,247 people · home $260,600
- Gloucester Point, VA14.5 mi · 10,587 people · home $320,700
- Norfolk, VA14.6 mi · 238,005 people · home $289,900
- Carrollton, VA17.7 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
- Portsmouth, VA18.8 mi · 97,915 people · home $246,900
- Smithfield, VA20.2 mi · 8,533 people · home $374,900
Poquoson questions
Is Poquoson, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Poquoson scores better for retirees than 61% of Virginia towns and quieter than 44%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Poquoson?
The median owner-occupied home in Poquoson is valued at $400,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,972, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,707 a month.
What is the weather like in Poquoson?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 32.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Poquoson get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Poquoson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 4, 1999. 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)