Median Income
$34,792
household / year
Median Home Value
$166,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$504
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100

Is Stuart, VA a Good Place to Live?

Stuart is a small town of 1,533 in Virginia, with a median household income of $34,792 and a 8.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Stuart stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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

All Stuart 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: 89.0

Stuart's overall cost of living index is 89.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Stuart costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric Stuart, VA National Avg
Median Home Value $166,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $504 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 49.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $34,792 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Stuart's violent crime rate is 266.9 per 100,000 residents — 30% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
266.9 /100k
Property Crime
1221.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Stuart is served primarily by Patrick County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Stuart, VA National Avg
School District Patrick County Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 5 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 80.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Stuart sees average highs of 48.1°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 52.3 inches of annual precipitation and 6.4 inches of snow per year.

MetricStuart, VA
Average High — January48.1°F
Average High — July86.1°F
Annual Precipitation52.3"
Annual Snowfall6.4"

Demographics

MetricStuart, VANational Avg
Population1,533—
Median Age54.838.9
Unemployment Rate8.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time23.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)86.6%59.3%
Black or African American8.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino1.4%18.9%
Asian1.4%6.3%
Under 1816.2%22.2%
65 and over34.0%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Stuart vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Stuart's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Stuart roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $166,700 and median rent is $504/month.
Stuart's violent crime rate is 266.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1221.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Stuart are operated by Patrick County Public Schools. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 16.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Stuart, VA has a population of 1,533, a median household income of $34,792, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%. 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.
Stuart averages 48.1°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.3 inches with about 6.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Stuart, Virginia is 1,533 with a median age of 54.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Stuart: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $166,700, median household income $34,792, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Stuart side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.