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Living in
Staunton.
About
Life in Staunton
If you're considering a move to Staunton, understand that this is a small city with real cultural infrastructure—the Shakespeare Center and Heifetz Institute draw visitors, and the Staunton Music Festival happens every August—but it's not a tourist town pretending to be a home. The reality is you're looking at affordable housing with a median home value around $259,200 and median rent under $1,000, which matters when the median household income is $65,581. The job market is solid with only 3.1% unemployment, though your commute will likely be around 22 minutes depending on where you work.
Staunton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Foreign-Born
3.5%
Broadband Internet
86.3%
of households
Population Growth
+4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.5% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Staunton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Staunton, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (13.1%), and 3.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.3%
of residents
65 and Older
21.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
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 35% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Staunton
In Staunton, rent runs 35% below the VA average, and home values are 32% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,818
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $315,339 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Staunton
Unemployment in Staunton is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Staunton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.5 min avg
How Staunton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Staunton, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD)
Regional airport · few flights8,470 passengers boarded in 2025
- 103 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Staunton runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
169.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,351
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Staunton Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
10.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Staunton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Staunton, the most common type is winter weather, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | $7,000 |
| 2024 | 5 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2023 | 12 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 14 | Winter Weather | $1.2M |
| 2021 | 20 | Dense Fog | $70,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | Frost/Freeze | None reported |
| 2019 | 22 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 23 | Dense Fog | Not estimated |
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
Staunton city, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rockingham County, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 26 miles from Staunton) is typically good — 292 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
292
per year
Moderate Days
73
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Rockingham County, VA (26 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Staunton has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.3"
Annual Snowfall
22.3"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
120
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 23°F | 3.16" |
| Feb | 48°F | 25°F | 2.80" |
| Mar | 55°F | 31°F | 4.11" |
| Apr | 66°F | 40°F | 3.94" |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 3.59" |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 4.47" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 3.68" |
| Aug | 85°F | 61°F | 3.69" |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 5.46" |
| Oct | 68°F | 43°F | 3.41" |
| Nov | 56°F | 33°F | 4.03" |
| Dec | 47°F | 27°F | 2.99" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Staunton
Staunton has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.4%
of residents
Western State Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Augusta Health
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Fishersville
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 Staunton
Staunton's student/teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 37.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.7%
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 Staunton
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,090 students · in-state tuition $35,357 · 65% graduate · median earnings $48,703 (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: Shenandoah National Park, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Staunton
Staunton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Shenandoah National Park (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Shenandoah National Park
National Park
39 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
48 mi awayAppomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayCedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
National Historical Park
71 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
81 mi awayFredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
National Military Park
87 mi awayManassas National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
94 mi awayPrince William Forest Park
Park
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Staunton
Staunton Public Library
1 Churchville Avenue, Staunton
Cities Near Staunton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Staunton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Staunton FAQ
Is Staunton, Virginia affordable?⌄
Staunton's median rent is $1,024/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $65,581/year. Median home value is $259,200.
Is Staunton, Virginia safe?⌄
Staunton's violent crime rate was 169 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1351 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Staunton, Virginia?⌄
Staunton has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Staunton, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Staunton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,024/month and median household income is $65,581/year. The median home value is $259,200. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Staunton, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Staunton is 21 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