The Town FilesRadford, Virginia
City in Radford city · population 16,070 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $220,700
- Household income
- $57,348
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 23.3
Radford is a city of 16,070 people in Radford city, Virginia. The median home is worth $220,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of Virginia towns, hipper than 95% of Virginia towns, better for cycling than 91% of Virginia towns.
How Radford 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 Radford is worth $220,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $57,348, which is more affordable than 51% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,033 a month. 42.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Radford | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,033 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $57,348 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 42.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Radford
| People | Radford | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.7% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Radford
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.5°F. About 42.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Radford since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 31, 2021 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 31, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 2, 2002.
Severe weather in Radford city since 1996
Radford city has been included in 17 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 Radford city
Radford city had 5,996 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,027 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Radford itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Radford
6 public schools with 1,982 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radford High | 9-12 | 505 | 11.2 |
| Belle Heth Elementary | 3-6 | 481 | 15.0 |
| McHarg Elementary | PK-2 | 391 | 13.0 |
| John N. Dalton Intermediate | 7-8 | 240 | 10.4 |
| Belview Elementary | PK-5 | 237 | 9.9 |
| Indian Valley Elementary | PK-7 | 128 | 14.2 |
Towns near Radford
- Dublin, VA7.3 mi · 2,682 people · home $180,500
- Christiansburg, VA8.6 mi · 23,348 people · home $252,600
- Merrimac, VA9.1 mi · 2,858 people · home —
- Blacksburg, VA10.6 mi · 44,826 people · home $446,300
- Pulaski, VA12.1 mi · 8,985 people · home $160,500
- Pearisburg, VA17.1 mi · 2,909 people · home $157,400
- Hillsville, VA26.6 mi · 2,884 people · home $159,000
- Salem, VA30.0 mi · 25,346 people · home $258,600
Radford questions
Is Radford, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Radford scores better for retirees than 20% of Virginia towns and quieter than 24%. 9.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.3).
How much does a house cost in Radford?
The median owner-occupied home in Radford is valued at $220,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,348, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,033 a month.
What is the weather like in Radford?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 22.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.1 inches of precipitation a year and 21.7 inches of snow.
Does Radford get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Radford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 31, 2021. 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)