What are the schools like in Staunton, VA?

Staunton is served primarily by Staunton City Public Schools. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Staunton?

The median household income in Staunton, VA is $59,731 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 Staunton, VA?

Staunton has an average high temperature of 42.4°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Staunton, VA affordable or expensive?

Staunton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Staunton is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $219,500 and the median rent is $984 per month.

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

Staunton has a violent crime rate of 141.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1506.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Staunton, VA a Good Place to Live?

Staunton is a small city of 25,581 in Virginia, with a median household income of $59,731 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Staunton 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 Staunton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Staunton 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: 92.6

Staunton's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Staunton costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Staunton, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$219,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$984	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,731	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Staunton's violent crime rate is 141.5 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

141.5 /100k

Property Crime

1506.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Staunton is served primarily by Staunton City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Staunton, VA	National Avg
School District	Staunton City Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Staunton sees average highs of 42.4°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 40.6 inches of annual precipitation and 21.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Staunton, VA
Average High — January	42.4°F
Average High — July	84.1°F
Annual Precipitation	40.6"
Annual Snowfall	21.6"

Demographics

Metric	Staunton, VA	National Avg
Population	25,581	—
Median Age	41.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.4%	6.3%
Under 18	18.9%	22.2%
65 and over	21.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jolivue, VA 3 mi Verona, VA 4 mi Fishersville, VA 6 mi Churchville, VA 7 mi Mount Sidney, VA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Staunton

Staunton, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24401

Staunton vs Other Cities

Staunton, VA vs Jolivue, VA Staunton, VA vs Verona, VA Staunton, VA vs Fishersville, VA Staunton, VA vs Churchville, VA Staunton, VA vs Mount Sidney, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Staunton, VA affordable or expensive?

Staunton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Staunton roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $219,500 and median rent is $984/month.

What is the crime rate in Staunton, VA?

Staunton's violent crime rate is 141.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1506.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Staunton?

Public schools in Staunton are operated by Staunton City Public Schools. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Staunton, VA a good place to live?

Staunton, VA has a population of 25,581, a median household income of $59,731, 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 Staunton?

Staunton averages 42.4°F in January and 84.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.6 inches with about 21.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Staunton?

Staunton, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24401.

What is the population of Staunton?

The population of Staunton, Virginia is 25,581 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Staunton?

Key numbers for living in Staunton: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $219,500, median household income $59,731, crime index 51 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Staunton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.