The Town FilesSouth Hill, Virginia
Town in Mecklenburg County · population 4,690 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $242,700
- Household income
- $66,023
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.2
South Hill is a town of 4,690 people in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. The median home is worth $242,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Virginia towns, hipper than 73% of Virginia towns.
How South Hill 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 Hill is worth $242,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $66,023, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,132 a month. 54.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Hill | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $242,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,132 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $66,023 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.1% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in South Hill
| People | South Hill | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in South Hill
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hill since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 2, 1966 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on February 24, 2016.
Severe weather in Mecklenburg County since 1996
Mecklenburg County has been included in 20 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 |
| 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 |
| December 18, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4411: Tropical Storm Michael |
Jobs and pay in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County had 11,719 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,731 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in South Hill itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in South Hill
1 public school with 761 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 761 | 18.1 |
Towns near South Hill
- Blackstone, VA25.6 mi · 3,352 people · home $140,900
- South Rosemary, NC29.8 mi · 2,753 people · home $86,800
South Hill questions
Is South Hill, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Hill scores better for retirees than 68% of Virginia towns and quieter than 64%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in South Hill?
The median owner-occupied home in South Hill is valued at $242,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,023, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,132 a month.
What is the weather like in South Hill?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 5.8 inches of snow.
Does South Hill get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 2, 1966. 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)