Very AffordableSafer than AverageJackson River Governor's School
Downtown Clifton Forge, Virginia, January 2008 · WaldoJ at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Clifton Forge - Masonic Amphitheatre · Jarek Tuszyński / CC BY-SA 3.0Amtrak "The Cardinal" - Clifton Forge, VA · NovaWolce / CC BY-SA 4.0
Clifton Forge is a small town of 3,541 in Virginia, with a median household income of $32,007
and a 8.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clifton Forge stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clifton Forge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Clifton Forge 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: 86.9
Clifton Forge's overall cost of living index is 86.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clifton Forge costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clifton Forge, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$97,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$539
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$32,007
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Clifton Forge's violent crime rate is 209.6 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
209.6 /100k
Property Crime
1557.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clifton Forge is served primarily by Jackson River Governor's School.
Metric
Clifton Forge, VA
National Avg
School District
Jackson River Governor's School
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clifton Forge sees average highs of 41.5°F in January
and 84.0°F in July,
with 43.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.1 inches of snow per year.
Clifton Forge's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clifton Forge roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $97,400 and median rent is $539/month.
Clifton Forge's violent crime rate is 209.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1557.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clifton Forge are operated by Jackson River Governor's School.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
17.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clifton Forge, VA has a population of 3,541, a median household income of $32,007, and an unemployment rate of 8.5%.
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.
Clifton Forge averages 41.5°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.9 inches
with about 10.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Clifton Forge, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24422.
The population of Clifton Forge, Virginia is 3,541 with a median age of 42.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clifton Forge: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $97,400, median household income $32,007, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clifton Forge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
