The Town FilesRichlands, Virginia
Town in Tazewell County · population 5,261 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,000
- Household income
- $37,154
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 44.5
Richlands is a town of 5,261 people in Tazewell County, Virginia. The median home is worth $111,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 79% of Virginia towns, easier by car than 72% of Virginia towns.
How Richlands 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 Richlands is worth $111,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $37,154, which is more affordable than 81% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 63.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richlands | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $804 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $37,154 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Richlands
| People | Richlands | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 91.8% |
Weather in Richlands
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 44.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.6 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Richlands since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 19, 1996 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 19, 1996.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Tazewell County since 1996
Tazewell County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| September 30, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4674: Flooding And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Tazewell County
Tazewell County had 13,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,784 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Richlands itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Richlands
3 public schools with 1,632 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richlands High | 9-12 | 600 | 10.3 |
| Richlands Elementary | PK-5 | 561 | 12.5 |
| Richlands Middle | 6-8 | 471 | 14.3 |
Towns near Richlands
- Tazewell, VA17.0 mi · 4,486 people · home $111,700
- Lebanon, VA19.7 mi · 3,159 people · home $162,400
- Marion, VA23.8 mi · 5,751 people · home $172,500
- Welch, WV26.4 mi · 3,590 people · home $57,300
- Abingdon, VA27.8 mi · 8,376 people · home $228,000
Richlands questions
Is Richlands, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richlands scores better for retirees than 52% of Virginia towns and quieter than 60%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Richlands?
The median owner-occupied home in Richlands is valued at $111,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,154, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Richlands?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.6 inches of precipitation a year and 17.6 inches of snow.
Does Richlands get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Richlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 19, 1996. 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)