The Town FilesSouth Boston, Virginia
Town in Halifax County · population 7,966 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,200
- Household income
- $44,052
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 44.2
South Boston is a town of 7,966 people in Halifax County, Virginia. The median home is worth $171,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Virginia towns, hipper than 79% of Virginia towns.
How South Boston 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 South Boston is worth $171,200, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $44,052, which is more affordable than 48% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Boston | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,200 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $760 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $44,052 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in South Boston
| People | South Boston | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in South Boston
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 26.5°F. About 46.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.5 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Boston since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 24, 1969 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 28, 2016.
Severe weather in Halifax County since 1996
Halifax County has been included in 24 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 |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Halifax County
Halifax County had 11,850 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,234 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in South Boston itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in South Boston
4 public schools with 3,038 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax County High | 9-12 | 1,350 | 12.2 |
| Halifax County Middle | 6-8 | 871 | 11.6 |
| South Boston Elementary | K-5 | 694 | 14.5 |
| South Boston/Halifax Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 123 | 11.2 |
Towns near South Boston
- Roxboro, NC22.7 mi · 8,134 people · home $157,700
- Mount Hermon, VA28.3 mi · 4,057 people · home $211,600
- Danville, VA28.8 mi · 42,590 people · home $119,100
South Boston questions
Is South Boston, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Boston scores better for retirees than 49% of Virginia towns and quieter than 45%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in South Boston?
The median owner-occupied home in South Boston is valued at $171,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,052, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in South Boston?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 26.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.4 inches of precipitation a year and 5.5 inches of snow.
Does South Boston get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Boston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 24, 1969. 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)