What are the schools like in Lynchburg, VA?

Lynchburg is served primarily by Lynchburg City Public Schools. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in Lynchburg?

The median household income in Lynchburg, VA is $56,243 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.

What is the weather like in Lynchburg, VA?

Lynchburg has an average high temperature of 46.4°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Lynchburg, VA affordable or expensive?

Lynchburg's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lynchburg is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $196,000 and the median rent is $972 per month.

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

Lynchburg has a violent crime rate of 357.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1737.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lynchburg, VA a Good Place to Live?

Lynchburg is a mid-sized city of 79,166 in Virginia, with a median household income of $56,243 and a 5.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lynchburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lynchburg 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: 90.3

Lynchburg's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lynchburg costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lynchburg, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$196,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$972	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,243	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lynchburg's violent crime rate is 357.2 per 100,000 residents — 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

357.2 /100k

Property Crime

1737.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lynchburg is served primarily by Lynchburg City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lynchburg, VA	National Avg
School District	Lynchburg City Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	38.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lynchburg sees average highs of 46.4°F in January and 85.3°F in July, with 43.6 inches of annual precipitation and 12.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lynchburg, VA
Average High — January	46.4°F
Average High — July	85.3°F
Annual Precipitation	43.6"
Annual Snowfall	12.4"

Demographics

Metric	Lynchburg, VA	National Avg
Population	79,166	—
Median Age	28.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	62.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	27.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	19.0%	22.2%
65 and over	14.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Forest, VA 5 mi Madison Heights, VA 6 mi Timberlake, VA 6 mi Rustburg, VA 10 mi Concord, VA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Lynchburg

Lynchburg, VA is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

24502 24501 24503 24504 24515

Lynchburg vs Other Cities

Lynchburg, VA vs Forest, VA Lynchburg, VA vs Madison Heights, VA Lynchburg, VA vs Timberlake, VA Lynchburg, VA vs Rustburg, VA Lynchburg, VA vs Concord, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lynchburg, VA affordable or expensive?

Lynchburg's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lynchburg roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $196,000 and median rent is $972/month.

What is the crime rate in Lynchburg, VA?

Lynchburg's violent crime rate is 357.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1737.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lynchburg?

Public schools in Lynchburg are operated by Lynchburg City Public Schools. The district has 11 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 38.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lynchburg, VA a good place to live?

Lynchburg, VA has a population of 79,166, a median household income of $56,243, and an unemployment rate of 5.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Lynchburg?

Lynchburg averages 46.4°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.6 inches with about 12.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lynchburg?

Lynchburg, VA is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 24502, 24501, 24503, 24504, 24515.

What is the population of Lynchburg?

The population of Lynchburg, Virginia is 79,166 with a median age of 28.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lynchburg?

Key numbers for living in Lynchburg: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $196,000, median household income $56,243, crime index 89 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lynchburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.