City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Buchanan, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Buchanan - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,271
Residents
$52,474
Median income
$201,900
Median home
$1,254
Median rent (state)

Buchanan - the verdict

Buchanan ranks in the 23rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

23rd
percentile, household income
43rd
percentile, home value
41st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Buchanan, VA

Buchanan is a small town in Virginia, home to 1,271 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Buchanan households earn a median of $52,474 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.3%. Buchanan's housing stock carries a median value of $201,900, and the median resident age is 43.7 years. About 31.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 52.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Buchanan's yearly average temperature at 56.6°F with 43.6 inches of precipitation per year and 11.4 inches of snowfall.

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Virginia scores 101.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,254 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 18.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

1,271 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$52,474 /yr

Poverty 14.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Buchanan compare to other US cities?

Where Buchanan sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 23% higher than other cities
Home value 43% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Buchanan's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

23rdIncome percentile

23rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Buchanan's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$201,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 57% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Buchanan $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Buchanan, VA Buchanan, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Buchanan, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Buchanan, VA median $52,474/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Buchanan, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Buchanan, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,271
Median Income
$52,474
Median Home Value
$201,900
Median Age
43.7
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Labor force participation
52.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
56.6°F
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
11.4"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,195 residents1,200 residents1,205 residents1,210 residents1,215 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,197 residents 1,212 residents ▲ +1.3%
Buchanan's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.1%
Carpool
9.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.7%
Work from Home
4.9%

Based on 547 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Buchanan sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,254/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
18.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Brookneal
1,275 people
Gretna
1,275 people
Rustburg
1,276 people
Cape Charles
1,278 people
Glasgow
1,253 people
Penhook
1,253 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Buchanan's 1,271 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oak Grove Heights, AR
1,271 people
Cambria, IL
1,271 people
Palmyra, IN
1,271 people
Rome City, IN
1,271 people
Denton, NC
1,271 people
Goodwell, OK
1,271 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Buchanan's $52,474 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Huntsville, AR
$52,472 median income
Shenandoah, IA
$52,469 median income
St. Maries, ID
$52,468 median income
Paonia, CO
$52,466 median income
Mescal, AZ
$52,465 median income
Bent Creek, NC
$52,485 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Buchanan, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Buchanan, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 93.8% Black or African American 3.9% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Buchanan compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Buchanan (this city) 1,271 $52,474
Brookneal 1,275 $45,909
Gretna 1,275 $36,023
Rustburg 1,276 $70,771
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Buchanan, VA?

What is the population of Buchanan, VA? +

Buchanan, VA counts 1,271 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Buchanan, VA? +

The median household income in Buchanan is $52,474 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Buchanan? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Buchanan; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Buchanan, VA? +

A typical home in Buchanan is worth $201,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Buchanan? +

Buchanan has an average annual temperature of 56.6°F, 43.6 inches of precipitation, and 11.4 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.