City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Grottoes, VA

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

2,926
Residents
$84,508
Median income
$267,500
Median home
$1,322
Median rent (state)

Grottoes - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Grottoes places in the 66th percentile for household income and the 72nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

66th
percentile, household income
59th
percentile, home value
48th
percentile, median rent
72nd
percentile, safety
📝 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: Grottoes, VA

Virginia's Grottoes is a small town, with 2,926 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $84,508 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.5%. Typical homes in Grottoes are valued around $267,500, and the median resident age is 38.1 years. Educational attainment runs 23.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 74.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Grottoes reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 792.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Virginia at 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,322 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $235 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 26.6 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

2,926 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$84,508 /yr

Poverty 9.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Grottoes compare to other US cities?

Grottoes measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 66% higher than other cities
Home value 59% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% pricier than other cities
Safety 72% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Virginia, Grottoes ranks #18 of 117 Virginia cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Grottoes against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Virginia-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Virginia's city distribution

Among the 616 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Grottoes ranks #197 - the 67th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Grottoes only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#234 of 558
58th percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#263 of 619
55th percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#266 of 567
53rd percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#197 of 616
67th percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#351 of 618
43rd percentile in Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

66thIncome percentile
72ndSafety percentile

66th percentile nationally for median household income · 72nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Grottoes's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Grottoes's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 62 Avg. percentile National median
Grottoes's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Grottoes's home value compares nationally

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

$267,500 41st percentile more affordable than 41% 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%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Grottoes $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 - Grottoes, VA Grottoes, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Grottoes, 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 Grottoes, VA median $84,508/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%
Grottoes, 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 Grottoes, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.6%

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

Population
2,926
Median Income
$84,508
Median Home Value
$267,500
Median Age
38.1
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Labor force participation
74.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
792.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
264.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
528.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,800 residents2,900 residents3,000 residents3,100 residents3,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,907 residents 3,099 residents ▲ +6.6%
Grottoes's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.9%
Carpool
15.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.8%

Based on 1,708 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 Grottoes sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,322/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
26.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Wise
2,940 people
Merrimac
2,955 people
Elkton
2,973 people
Hillsville
2,869 people
Pearisburg
2,864 people
Arcola
2,858 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Grottoes's 2,926 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hackberry, TX
2,927 people
Platteville, CO
2,924 people
Kurtistown, HI
2,928 people
Sorgho, KY
2,928 people
Monrovia, MD
2,924 people
Crownpoint, NM
2,924 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Grottoes's $84,508 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mount Joy, PA
$84,514 median income
Rhododendron, OR
$84,519 median income
Wathena, KS
$84,531 median income
Columbia, NJ
$84,531 median income
Pine Hill, NY
$84,531 median income
Bangor Base, WA
$84,485 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Grottoes, 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 Grottoes, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.9% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.3% White 89.9% Black or African American 2.6% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 6.2% 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 Grottoes 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
Grottoes (this city) 2,926 $84,508
Wise 2,940 $44,234
Merrimac 2,955 $55,202
Elkton 2,973 $61,385
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Grottoes, VA?

What is the population of Grottoes, VA? +

Grottoes, VA has a population of 2,926 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Grottoes households earn a median of $84,508 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Grottoes? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Grottoes; 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.

Is Grottoes, VA safe? +

Grottoes has a total crime rate of 792.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

The median home value in Grottoes is $267,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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

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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.