What are the schools like in Williamsburg, VA?

Williamsburg is served primarily by Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Williamsburg?

The median household income in Williamsburg, VA is $66,815 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.0%.

What is the weather like in Williamsburg, VA?

Williamsburg has an average high temperature of 49.1°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Williamsburg, VA affordable or expensive?

Williamsburg's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Williamsburg is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $385,600 and the median rent is $1,274 per month.

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

Williamsburg has a violent crime rate of 198.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1205.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Williamsburg, VA a Good Place to Live?

Williamsburg is a small city of 15,486 in Virginia, with a median household income of $66,815 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Williamsburg stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Williamsburg 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: 97.4

Williamsburg's overall cost of living index is 97.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Williamsburg costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Williamsburg, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$385,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,274	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,815	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Williamsburg's violent crime rate is 198.8 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

198.8 /100k

Property Crime

1205.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Williamsburg is served primarily by Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Williamsburg, VA	National Avg
School District	Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Williamsburg sees average highs of 49.1°F in January and 88.5°F in July, with 51.2 inches of annual precipitation and 4.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Williamsburg, VA
Average High — January	49.1°F
Average High — July	88.5°F
Annual Precipitation	51.2"
Annual Snowfall	4.3"

Demographics

Metric	Williamsburg, VA	National Avg
Population	15,486	—
Median Age	24.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	15.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.2%	18.9%
Asian	7.0%	6.3%
Under 18	10.2%	22.2%
65 and over	16.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Scotland, VA 8 mi Yorktown, VA 11 mi Surry, VA 11 mi Gloucester Point, VA 12 mi Gloucester Courthouse, VA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Williamsburg

Williamsburg, VA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

23185 23188

Williamsburg vs Other Cities

Williamsburg, VA vs Scotland, VA Williamsburg, VA vs Yorktown, VA Williamsburg, VA vs Surry, VA Williamsburg, VA vs Gloucester Point, VA Williamsburg, VA vs Gloucester Courthouse, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Williamsburg, VA affordable or expensive?

Williamsburg's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Williamsburg roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $385,600 and median rent is $1,274/month.

What is the crime rate in Williamsburg, VA?

Williamsburg's violent crime rate is 198.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1205.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Williamsburg?

Public schools in Williamsburg are operated by Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. The district has 9 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 50.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Williamsburg, VA a good place to live?

Williamsburg, VA has a population of 15,486, a median household income of $66,815, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. 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 Williamsburg?

Williamsburg averages 49.1°F in January and 88.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.2 inches with about 4.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Williamsburg?

Williamsburg, VA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 23185, 23188.

What is the population of Williamsburg?

The population of Williamsburg, Virginia is 15,486 with a median age of 24.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Williamsburg?

Key numbers for living in Williamsburg: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $385,600, median household income $66,815, crime index 54 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Williamsburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.