Big Island is a small town of 181 in Virginia, with a median household income of $40,268
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Big Island stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Big Island is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Big Island 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: 90.3
Big Island's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Big Island costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Big Island, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
N/A
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,268
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Big Island's violent crime rate is 115.2 per 100,000 residents
— 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
115.2 /100k
Property Crime
806.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Big Island is served primarily by Bedford County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Big Island, VA
National Avg
School District
Bedford County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
13
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
0.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Big Island sees average highs of 46.4°F in January
and 85.3°F in July,
with 53.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 15.5 inches of snow per year.
Big Island's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Big Island roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is N/A and median rent is N/A/month.
Big Island's violent crime rate is 115.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 806.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Big Island are operated by Bedford County Public Schools.
The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 0.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Big Island, VA has a population of 181, a median household income of $40,268, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Big Island averages 46.4°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.0 inches
with about 15.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Big Island, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24526.
The population of Big Island, Virginia is 181 with a median age of 54.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Big Island: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home N/A, median household income $40,268, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Big Island side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
