What are the schools like in Gretna, VA?

Gretna is served primarily by Pittsylvania County Public Schools. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

What is the median household income in Gretna?

The median household income in Gretna, VA is $29,667 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Gretna, VA?

Gretna has an average high temperature of 47.3°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 5.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Gretna, VA affordable or expensive?

Gretna's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gretna is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $135,800 and the median rent is $725 per month.

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

Gretna has a violent crime rate of 78.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1020.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gretna, VA a Good Place to Live?

Gretna is a small town of 1,227 in Virginia, with a median household income of $29,667 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Gretna 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gretna is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gretna 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: 90.9

Gretna's overall cost of living index is 90.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gretna costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Gretna, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$135,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$725	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	46.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$29,667	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Gretna's violent crime rate is 78.5 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

78.5 /100k

Property Crime

1020.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Gretna is served primarily by Pittsylvania County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gretna, VA	National Avg
School District	Pittsylvania County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	72.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gretna sees average highs of 47.3°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 47.7 inches of annual precipitation and 5.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gretna, VA
Average High — January	47.3°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	47.7"
Annual Snowfall	5.8"

Demographics

Metric	Gretna, VA	National Avg
Population	1,227	—
Median Age	57.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	65.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	31.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	15.6%	22.2%
65 and over	35.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Motley, VA 8 mi Chatham, VA 10 mi Hurt, VA 11 mi Altavista, VA 13 mi Penhook, VA 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Gretna

Gretna, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24557

Gretna vs Other Cities

Gretna, VA vs Motley, VA Gretna, VA vs Chatham, VA Gretna, VA vs Hurt, VA Gretna, VA vs Altavista, VA Gretna, VA vs Penhook, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gretna, VA affordable or expensive?

Gretna's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gretna roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $135,800 and median rent is $725/month.

What is the crime rate in Gretna, VA?

Gretna's violent crime rate is 78.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1020.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gretna?

Public schools in Gretna are operated by Pittsylvania County Public Schools. The district has 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 13.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gretna, VA a good place to live?

Gretna, VA has a population of 1,227, a median household income of $29,667, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. 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 Gretna?

Gretna averages 47.3°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.7 inches with about 5.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Gretna?

Gretna, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24557.

What is the population of Gretna?

The population of Gretna, Virginia is 1,227 with a median age of 57.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gretna?

Key numbers for living in Gretna: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $135,800, median household income $29,667, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gretna side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.