Altavista, Virginia
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 50% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 67% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 21% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 34% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 20% of US places
- top 10% for sales tax
- top 15% for property tax rate
- bottom 11% for unemployment
Altavista is a small community in Virginia with about 3,370 residents. It grades B for weather and D for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include sales tax, property tax rate, and natural disaster risk. It rates lower on property crime and unemployment.
- The median home value in Altavista is $125k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Altavista is $40k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Altavista is $774 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Altavista has a violent crime rate of 1404/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Altavista is 30 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Hot summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Light snow
cold
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warm
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76%64%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.9 in3.2 in
humid 80%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$40k12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$47kbetter than 43% of US places
Home Value$125k36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$774better than 70% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$940better than 26% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.55%better than 85% of US places
Income Tax5.80%better than 36% of US places
Sales Tax5.77%better than 90% of US places
Estimated total tax burden9.43%better than 56% of US places
Unemployment11.5%better than 11% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)37°F64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)77°F57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation43.9 in57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall5.9 inbetter than 66% of US places
Sunny Days253 daysbetter than 69% of US places
Summer Humidity66°Fbetter than 37% of US places
Comfortable Days78 daysbetter than 40% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk50.2better than 71% of US places
Air Quality43 AQIbetter than 64% of US places
School Quality41.7better than 18% of US places
Violent Crime1404/100kbetter than 20% of US places
Property Crime2300/100kbetter than 14% of US places
Community
Population3,37073rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.653rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4781st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0260th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+4572nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)65.7%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)30.8%93rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)1.5%36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.0%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.0%39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time30 minbetter than 27% of US places
Walkability6.4/20better than 46% of US places
Airport Distance91 mibetter than 42% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access80.7%better than 32% of US places
Amenities Nearby68.25better than 46% of US places
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 22% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- 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)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Altavista an affordable place to live?
- Altavista is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $47k, better than 43% of comparable areas. Median rent is $774.
- Is Altavista safe?
- Altavista is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1404/100k (better than 20%). Property crime is 2300/100k.
- What is the weather like in Altavista?
- Altavista averages 77°F in July and 37°F in January, with 43.9 in of annual precipitation and about 253 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Altavista?
- Public-school quality in Altavista is below average, scoring better than 18% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Altavista?
- The average one-way commute in Altavista is 30 min.