Great Falls, Virginia
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 17% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 6% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 44% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 60% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 72% of US places
- top 3% for airport distance
- top 8% for broadband access
- bottom 1% for monthly rent
Great Falls is a town in Virginia with about 15,000 residents. It grades B+ for lifestyle & connectivity and F for weather. Standout strengths include airport distance, broadband access, and sales tax. It rates lower on cost of living and monthly rent.
- The median home value in Great Falls is $1.2M, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Great Falls is $250k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Great Falls is $3k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Great Falls has a violent crime rate of 1310/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Great Falls is 35 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Hot summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
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warm
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57%45%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.1 in3.0 in
muggy 75%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$250k100th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$76kbetter than 3% of US places
Home Value$1.2M99th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$3kbetter than 1% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$5kbetter than 7% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.80%better than 64% of US places
Income Tax5.80%better than 36% of US places
Sales Tax5.77%better than 90% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.70%better than 31% of US places
Unemployment3.3%better than 56% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)35°F60th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)79°F65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation44.7 in59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall18.5 inbetter than 48% of US places
Sunny Days181 daysbetter than 10% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 39% of US places
Comfortable Days76 daysbetter than 34% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk37.4better than 84% of US places
Air Quality46 AQIbetter than 52% of US places
School Quality74.1better than 70% of US places
Violent Crime1310/100kbetter than 23% of US places
Property Crime2664/100kbetter than 10% of US places
Community
Population14,96891st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age47.974th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4983rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0565th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+396th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)64.5%26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.1%58th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)3.8%51st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)24.7%99th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)6.0%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time35 minbetter than 9% of US places
Walkability6.8/20better than 56% of US places
Airport Distance9 mibetter than 97% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access98.6%better than 92% of US places
Amenities Nearby139.63better than 62% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 33% 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 Great Falls an affordable place to live?
- Great Falls is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $76k, better than 3% of comparable areas. Median rent is $3k.
- Is Great Falls safe?
- Great Falls is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1310/100k (better than 23%). Property crime is 2664/100k.
- What is the weather like in Great Falls?
- Great Falls averages 79°F in July and 35°F in January, with 44.7 in of annual precipitation and about 181 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Great Falls?
- Public-school quality in Great Falls is above average, scoring better than 70% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Great Falls?
- The average one-way commute in Great Falls is 35 min.