Below Average CostVery SafeAugusta County Public Schools
Welcome to Stuarts Draft Virginia sign · Ben Schumin / CC BY-SA 2.0Bare's Mill, 4x6, 300ppi · Philip N. Wheeler / CC BY-SA 3.0BARE HOUSE AND GRIST, AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / CC BY-SA 4.0HARPER HSE, STUARTS DRAFT, AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / CC BY-SA 4.0
Stuarts Draft is a small city of 11,554 in Virginia, with a median household income of $75,100
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Stuarts Draft 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 Stuarts Draft is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Stuarts Draft 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
Stuarts Draft's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Stuarts Draft costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Stuarts Draft, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$243,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,022
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$75,100
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Stuarts Draft's violent crime rate is 104.6 per 100,000 residents
— 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
104.6 /100k
Property Crime
978.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Stuarts Draft is served primarily by Augusta County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Stuarts Draft, VA
National Avg
School District
Augusta County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
9
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Stuarts Draft sees average highs of 44.2°F in January
and 85.7°F in July,
with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 21.6 inches of snow per year.
Stuarts Draft's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Stuarts Draft roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $243,000 and median rent is $1,022/month.
Stuarts Draft's violent crime rate is 104.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 978.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Stuarts Draft are operated by Augusta County Public Schools.
The district has 9 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 21.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Stuarts Draft, VA has a population of 11,554, a median household income of $75,100, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
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.
Stuarts Draft averages 44.2°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches
with about 21.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Stuarts Draft, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24477.
The population of Stuarts Draft, Virginia is 11,554 with a median age of 43.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Stuarts Draft: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $243,000, median household income $75,100, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Stuarts Draft side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
