What are the schools like in Damascus, VA?

Damascus is served primarily by Washington County Public Schools. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.2:1.

What is the median household income in Damascus?

The median household income in Damascus, VA is $33,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.9%.

What is the weather like in Damascus, VA?

Damascus has an average high temperature of 44.9°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.0 inches.

Damascus, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Damascus, VA affordable or expensive?

Damascus's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Damascus is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $175,000 and the median rent is $660 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Damascus, VA?

Damascus has a violent crime rate of 254.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3053.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Damascus, VA a Good Place to Live?

Damascus is a small town of 767 in Virginia, with a median household income of $33,750 and a 0.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

Strengths: Damascus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Damascus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Damascus 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: 85.4

Damascus's overall cost of living index is 85.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Damascus costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Damascus, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$175,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$660	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$33,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Damascus's violent crime rate is 254.5 per 100,000 residents — 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

254.5 /100k

Property Crime

3053.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Damascus is served primarily by Washington County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Damascus, VA	National Avg
School District	Washington County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Damascus sees average highs of 44.9°F in January and 84.7°F in July, with 47.3 inches of annual precipitation and 12.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Damascus, VA
Average High — January	44.9°F
Average High — July	84.7°F
Annual Precipitation	47.3"
Annual Snowfall	12.0"

Demographics

Metric	Damascus, VA	National Avg
Population	767	—
Median Age	42.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	16.2%	22.2%
65 and over	31.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Emory, VA 10 mi Meadowview, VA 10 mi Glade Spring, VA 11 mi Mountain City, TN 11 mi Abingdon, VA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Damascus

Damascus, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24236

Damascus vs Other Cities

Damascus, VA vs Emory, VA Damascus, VA vs Meadowview, VA Damascus, VA vs Glade Spring, VA Damascus, VA vs Mountain City, TN Damascus, VA vs Abingdon, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Damascus, VA affordable or expensive?

Damascus's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Damascus roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $175,000 and median rent is $660/month.

What is the crime rate in Damascus, VA?

Damascus's violent crime rate is 254.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3053.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Damascus?

Public schools in Damascus are operated by Washington County Public Schools. The district has 7 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Damascus, VA a good place to live?

Damascus, VA has a population of 767, a median household income of $33,750, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Damascus?

Damascus averages 44.9°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.3 inches with about 12.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Damascus?

Damascus, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24236.

What is the population of Damascus?

The population of Damascus, Virginia is 767 with a median age of 42.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Damascus?

Key numbers for living in Damascus: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $175,000, median household income $33,750, crime index 98 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Damascus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.