Buchanan County, Virginia
Among the top 7% of US counties for affordability.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade A, better than 93% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 72% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 23% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade F, better than 5% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 24% of US counties
- top 10% for cost of living
- top 10% for sales tax
- bottom 8% for broadband access
Buchanan County is a county in Virginia with about 20,000 residents. It grades A for affordability and F for getting around. Standout strengths include cost of living, sales tax, and property tax rate. It rates lower on walkability and broadband access.
Official websitebuchanancountyonline.com (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
v.cold
cold
comfortable
warm
comf.
cold
71%42%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in2.9 in
humid 68%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$40k6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$42kbetter than 90% of US counties
Home Value$85k4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$728better than 73% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 85% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.49%better than 87% of US counties
Income Tax5.80%better than 29% of US counties
Sales Tax5.77%better than 90% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden8.75%better than 67% of US counties
Unemployment6.0%better than 28% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)33°F47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation46.4 in59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall16.0 inbetter than 45% of US counties
Sunny Days217 daysbetter than 31% of US counties
Summer Humidity62°Fbetter than 65% of US counties
Comfortable Days92 daysbetter than 82% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk50.6better than 48% of US counties
School Quality51.7better than 45% of US counties
Violent Crime1401/100kbetter than 18% of US counties
Property Crime1637/100kbetter than 22% of US counties
Community
Population20,24642nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age47.688th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.072nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0885th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+6890th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)96.2%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.8%48th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)1.0%4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.0%12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)1.0%4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time30 minbetter than 18% of US counties
Walkability4.7/20better than 13% of US counties
Airport Distance156 mibetter than 23% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access71.2%better than 8% of US counties
Amenities Nearby4.45better than 64% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 36% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Buchanan County an affordable place to live?
- Buchanan County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $42k, better than 90% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Buchanan County?
- The median home value in Buchanan County is $85k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Buchanan County?
- Median household income in Buchanan County is $40k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Buchanan County?
- Median gross rent in Buchanan County is $728 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Buchanan County safe?
- Buchanan County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1401/100k (better than 18%). Property crime is 1637/100k.
- What is the weather like in Buchanan County?
- Buchanan County averages 72°F in July and 33°F in January, with 46.4 in of annual precipitation and about 217 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Buchanan County?
- Public-school quality in Buchanan County is about average, scoring better than 45% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Buchanan County?
- The average one-way commute in Buchanan County is 30 min.
Other counties in Virginia
Explore Virginia
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)