Rural Retreat is a small town of 1,531 in Virginia, with a median household income of $56,042
and a 2.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rural Retreat stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rural Retreat is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rural Retreat 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: 92.1
Rural Retreat's overall cost of living index is 92.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rural Retreat costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rural Retreat, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$152,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$783
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,042
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Rural Retreat's violent crime rate is 73.2 per 100,000 residents
— 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
73.2 /100k
Property Crime
1307.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rural Retreat is served primarily by Wythe County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rural Retreat, VA
National Avg
School District
Wythe County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
6
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rural Retreat sees average highs of 42.2°F in January
and 82.8°F in July,
with 41.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 18.4 inches of snow per year.
Rural Retreat's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rural Retreat roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $152,100 and median rent is $783/month.
Rural Retreat's violent crime rate is 73.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1307.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rural Retreat are operated by Wythe County Public Schools.
The district has 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rural Retreat, VA has a population of 1,531, a median household income of $56,042, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%.
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.
Rural Retreat averages 42.2°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.7 inches
with about 18.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rural Retreat, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24368.
The population of Rural Retreat, Virginia is 1,531 with a median age of 41.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rural Retreat: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $152,100, median household income $56,042, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rural Retreat side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
