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Living in
Lynchburg.
About
Life in Lynchburg
Living in Lynchburg means settling into a mid-sized city with genuine four-season character and a manageable cost of living—median home values around $230,000 and median rents near $1,073 a month keep housing relatively affordable compared to Virginia's urban centers. The job market is stable with a 4.3% unemployment rate, anchored by education, nuclear technology, pharmaceuticals, and a diverse small-business ecosystem that has weathered national downturns better than most. Summers are hot and humid, with about 27 days hitting 90 degrees, while winters are mild but occasionally snowy (averaging 11.6 inches), so expect real seasons without extreme cold.
Lynchburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.6%
Foreign-Born
4.8%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.8% foreign-born, most often from Nigeria
Who lives in Lynchburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lynchburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Nigeria (12.1%), and 3.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.4%
of residents
65 and Older
14.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.8%
of households
Married Couples
37.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.39
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 32% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Lynchburg
In Lynchburg, rent runs 32% below the VA average, and home values are 40% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,804
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $263,571 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above VA average
Unemployment in Lynchburg
Unemployment in Lynchburg is 0.9 percentage points higher than the VA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lynchburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.8 min avg
How Lynchburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lynchburg, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Lynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field (LYH)
Regional airport · few flights72k passengers boarded in 2025
- 100 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 140 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 10% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lynchburg runs 10% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
361.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,666.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lynchburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
49.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lynchburg County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lynchburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Winter Storm | $19,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $13,500 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $122,500 |
| 2022 | 10 | Strong Wind | $65,500 |
| 2021 | 7 | Winter Storm | $38,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,500 |
| 2019 | 8 | Flash Flood | $206,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Flash Flood | $28.6M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lynchburg city, county-wide
Air Quality30 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lynchburg is typically good.
Median AQI
30
Lynchburg city-wide
Climate84°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lynchburg has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
12.4"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
119
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 25°F | 3.38" |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 2.85" |
| Mar | 58°F | 33°F | 3.66" |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 3.64" |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 4.18" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 3.98" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.07" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.63" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.36" |
| Nov | 59°F | 33°F | 3.17" |
| Dec | 49°F | 28°F | 3.76" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lynchburg
Lynchburg has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lynchburg
Lynchburg's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
24
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lynchburg
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 50,012 students · in-state tuition $23,171 · 47% graduate · median earnings $46,945 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,577 students · in-state tuition $38,150 · 64% graduate · median earnings $57,425 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 658 students · in-state tuition $31,590 · 52% graduate · median earnings $53,121 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 219 students · in-state tuition $13,430 · 84% graduate · median earnings $57,204 (10 yrs after entry)
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 125 students · in-state tuition $11,360 · 59% graduate · median earnings $31,749 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, 22 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lynchburg
Lynchburg has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (22 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
36 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
70 mi awayShenandoah National Park
National Park
85 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
95 mi awayPetersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
95 mi awayMaggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
97 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lynchburg
Lynchburg Public Library
2315 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg
Lynchburg Public Downtown Branch Library
900 Church Street, Lynchburg
Cities Near Lynchburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lynchburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lynchburg FAQ
Is Lynchburg, Virginia affordable?⌄
Lynchburg's median rent is $1,073/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,947/year. Median home value is $229,800.
Is Lynchburg, Virginia safe?⌄
Lynchburg's violent crime rate was 361 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1666 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lynchburg, Virginia?⌄
Lynchburg has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lynchburg, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Lynchburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,073/month and median household income is $57,947/year. The median home value is $229,800. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lynchburg, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Lynchburg is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from