The Town FilesWilliamsburg, Virginia
City in Williamsburg city · population 15,425 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $428,100
- Household income
- $75,604
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 23.7
Williamsburg is a city of 15,425 people in Williamsburg city, Virginia. The median home is worth $428,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Virginia towns, hipper than 97% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Virginia towns.
How Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg is worth $428,100, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $75,604, which is more affordable than 7% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,407 a month. 53.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williamsburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $428,100 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,407 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $75,604 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.2% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.1% | — |
Who lives in Williamsburg
| People | Williamsburg | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.7 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 10.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Williamsburg
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 51.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamsburg since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 11, 1999.
Severe weather in Williamsburg city since 1996
Williamsburg city has been included in 16 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 |
| 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 Williamsburg city
Williamsburg city had 11,822 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,523 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Williamsburg itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Williamsburg
21 public schools with 13,018 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warhill High | 9-12 | 1,294 | 15.8 |
| Lafayette High | 9-12 | 1,243 | 17.5 |
| Jamestown High | 9-12 | 1,233 | 17.1 |
| Stonehouse Elementary | K-5 | 827 | 15.9 |
| Lois Hornsby Middle | 6-8 | 807 | 15.5 |
| Bruton High | 9-12 | 735 | 2.3 |
| Berkeley Middle | 6-8 | 665 | 14.8 |
| Magruder Elementary | K-5 | 653 | 19.2 |
| Norge Elementary | PK-5 | 606 | 11.4 |
| Matoaka Elementary | K-5 | 601 | 14.7 |
| Queens Lake Middle | 6-8 | 567 | 4.6 |
| D.J. Montague Elementary | PK-5 | 520 | 14.1 |
Towns near Williamsburg
- Gloucester Point, VA11.6 mi · 10,587 people · home $320,700
- Gloucester Courthouse, VA13.7 mi · 3,030 people · home $381,500
- Newport News, VA16.8 mi · 186,247 people · home $260,600
- Bethel Manor, VA19.6 mi · 4,540 people · home —
- West Point, VA20.2 mi · 3,414 people · home $286,800
- Smithfield, VA21.2 mi · 8,533 people · home $374,900
- Poquoson, VA24.3 mi · 12,460 people · home $400,300
- Carrollton, VA25.0 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
Williamsburg questions
Is Williamsburg, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williamsburg scores better for retirees than 45% of Virginia towns and quieter than 21%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.7).
How much does a house cost in Williamsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Williamsburg is valued at $428,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,604, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,407 a month.
What is the weather like in Williamsburg?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.2 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Williamsburg get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Williamsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 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)