Below Average CostVery SafeMontgomery County Public Schools
Blacksburg, Virginia · Smash the Iron Cage / CC BY-SA 4.0Blacksburg Virginia old town hall · Eric T Gunther / CC BY 3.0Post Office Blacksburg Virginia · Eric T Gunther / CC BY 3.0Coal Breaker near Blacksburg, Virginia (1904) · Internet Archive Book Images / No restrictions
Blacksburg is a small city of 45,147 in Virginia, with a median household income of $42,012
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Blacksburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Blacksburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Blacksburg 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: 90.7
Blacksburg's overall cost of living index is 90.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Blacksburg costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Blacksburg, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$387,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,237
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
33.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,012
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Blacksburg's violent crime rate is 76.5 per 100,000 residents
— 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
76.5 /100k
Property Crime
715.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Blacksburg is served primarily by Montgomery County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Blacksburg, VA
National Avg
School District
Montgomery County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
11
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
67.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Blacksburg sees average highs of 41.6°F in January
and 82.3°F in July,
with 44.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 24.7 inches of snow per year.
Blacksburg's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Blacksburg roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $387,700 and median rent is $1,237/month.
Blacksburg's violent crime rate is 76.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 715.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Blacksburg are operated by Montgomery County Public Schools.
The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 67.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Blacksburg, VA has a population of 45,147, a median household income of $42,012, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
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.
Blacksburg averages 41.6°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.0 inches
with about 24.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Blacksburg, VA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 24060, 24061.
The population of Blacksburg, Virginia is 45,147 with a median age of 21.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Blacksburg: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $387,700, median household income $42,012, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Blacksburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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