Drakes Branch is a small town of 508 in Virginia, with a median household income of $26,500
.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Drakes Branch stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Drakes Branch is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Drakes Branch 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: 87.2
Drakes Branch's overall cost of living index is 87.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Drakes Branch costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Drakes Branch, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$115,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$504
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$26,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Drakes Branch's violent crime rate is 109.4 per 100,000 residents
— 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
109.4 /100k
Property Crime
850.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Drakes Branch, 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
13.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Drakes Branch sees average highs of 46.8°F in January
and 87.3°F in July,
with 46.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.7 inches of snow per year.
Drakes Branch's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Drakes Branch roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $115,200 and median rent is $504/month.
Drakes Branch's violent crime rate is 109.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 850.2 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.
Drakes Branch, VA has a population of 508, a median household income of $26,500, 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.
Drakes Branch averages 46.8°F in January and 87.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.6 inches
with about 7.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Drakes Branch, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 23937.
The population of Drakes Branch, Virginia is 508 with a median age of 42.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Drakes Branch: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $115,200, median household income $26,500, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Drakes Branch side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
