The Town FilesSmithfield, Virginia
Town in Isle of Wight County · population 8,533 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $374,900
- Household income
- $113,158
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 46.3
Smithfield is a town of 8,533 people in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The median home is worth $374,900, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for families than 82% of Virginia towns.
How Smithfield 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 Smithfield is worth $374,900, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $113,158, which is more affordable than 71% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,195 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smithfield | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $374,900 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,195 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $113,158 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Smithfield
| People | Smithfield | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 18.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Smithfield
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 45.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.9 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithfield since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 25, 2017.
Severe weather in Isle of Wight County since 1996
Isle of Wight County has been included in 20 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 |
| October 15, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4401: Hurricane Florence |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Isle of Wight County
Isle of Wight County had 10,060 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,356 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Smithfield itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Smithfield
4 public schools with 3,282 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield High | 9-12 | 1,310 | 16.6 |
| Westside Elementary | 4-6 | 739 | 14.5 |
| Hardy Elementary | PK-4 | 632 | 14.4 |
| Smithfield Middle | 7-8 | 601 | 15.0 |
Towns near Smithfield
- Carrollton, VA5.6 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
- Newport News, VA8.8 mi · 186,247 people · home $260,600
- Windsor, VA13.1 mi · 2,746 people · home $280,800
- Bethel Manor, VA13.6 mi · 4,540 people · home —
- Portsmouth, VA16.2 mi · 97,915 people · home $246,900
- Hampton, VA18.2 mi · 137,148 people · home $245,700
- Suffolk, VA19.1 mi · 94,324 people · home $347,400
- Poquoson, VA20.2 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
Smithfield questions
Is Smithfield, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smithfield scores better for retirees than 56% of Virginia towns and quieter than 62%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Smithfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Smithfield is valued at $374,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $113,158, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,195 a month.
What is the weather like in Smithfield?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.9 inches of snow.
Does Smithfield get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Smithfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 16, 2011. 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)