What it's like to live in Martinsville
Martinsville is a small city in Virginia with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Martinsville deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- High poverty rate
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Martinsville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Martinsville
Based on Martinsville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,616
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $32,320 a year
- 36% of Martinsville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$19,680
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $9,840
- Homes cost 2.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 43% below US
$808/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $808 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $98,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $98,400 · 36% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 23% above US
5.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.3%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 63% above US
537 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1468/100k · Martinsville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 39% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Booker T Washington National Monument (31 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Martinsville's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($808/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Martinsville
All Virginia guides →Moving to Danville →
26 mi away · pop. 42,214
Rent $836/mo · Income $44,423
Compare with Martinsville →Moving to Cave Spring →
39 mi away · pop. 25,742
Rent $1,285/mo · Income $87,539
Compare with Martinsville →Not sure Martinsville is the one?
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