Median Income
$108,250
household / year
Median Home Value
$437,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,422
gross / month
Cost of Living
109
national avg = 100

Is The Plains, VA a Good Place to Live?

The Plains is a small town of 273 in Virginia, with a median household income of $108,250 and a 0.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: The Plains stands out for solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether The Plains is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All The Plains 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: 108.6

The Plains's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in The Plains costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric The Plains, VA National Avg
Median Home Value $437,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,422 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 33.3% 65.9%
Median Household Income $108,250 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

The Plains's violent crime rate is 82.8 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
82.8 /100k
Property Crime
550.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

The Plains is served primarily by Fauquier County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric The Plains, VA National Avg
School District Fauquier County Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 11 —
Middle Schools 4 —
High Schools 3 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 80.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

The Plains sees average highs of 42.2°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 46.1 inches of annual precipitation and 19.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricThe Plains, VA
Average High — January42.2°F
Average High — July84.9°F
Annual Precipitation46.1"
Annual Snowfall19.8"

Demographics

MetricThe Plains, VANational Avg
Population273—
Median Age45.238.9
Unemployment Rate0.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time26.7 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)64.1%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino24.2%18.9%
Asian0.7%6.3%
Under 1821.2%22.2%
65 and over10.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Marshall, VA 3 mi Rectortown, VA 6 mi Bull Run Mountain Estates, VA 7 mi Middleburg, VA 8 mi Haymarket, VA 8 mi

The Plains vs Other Cities

The Plains, VA vs Marshall, VA The Plains, VA vs Rectortown, VA The Plains, VA vs Bull Run Mountain Estates, VA The Plains, VA vs Middleburg, VA The Plains, VA vs Haymarket, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

The Plains's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts The Plains roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $437,500 and median rent is $1,422/month.
The Plains's violent crime rate is 82.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 550.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in The Plains are operated by Fauquier County Public Schools. The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 29.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The Plains, VA has a population of 273, a median household income of $108,250, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
The Plains averages 42.2°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.1 inches with about 19.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of The Plains, Virginia is 273 with a median age of 45.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in The Plains: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $437,500, median household income $108,250, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare The Plains side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.