2017-06-12 12 57 39 View south along U.S. Route 23 Business (Main Street) between Pine Street and Virginia Avenue in Appalachia, Wise County, Virginia · Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0Appalachia downtown · Nyttend / Public domain
Appalachia is a small town of 1,585 in Virginia, with a median household income of $34,896
and a 10.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Appalachia stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Appalachia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Appalachia city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 85.8
Appalachia's overall cost of living index is 85.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Appalachia costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Appalachia, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$62,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$615
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,896
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Appalachia's violent crime rate is 184.6 per 100,000 residents
— 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
184.6 /100k
Property Crime
1530.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Appalachia, VA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Appalachia sees average highs of 43.9°F in January
and 83.8°F in July,
with 56.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 9.2 inches of snow per year.
Appalachia's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Appalachia roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $62,700 and median rent is $615/month.
Appalachia's violent crime rate is 184.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1530.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Appalachia, VA has a population of 1,585, a median household income of $34,896, and an unemployment rate of 10.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Appalachia averages 43.9°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 56.0 inches
with about 9.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Appalachia, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24216.
The population of Appalachia, Virginia is 1,585 with a median age of 32.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Appalachia: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $62,700, median household income $34,896, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Appalachia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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