City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Harriston, VA

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

1,252
Residents
$91,625
Median income
$149,100
Median home
$1,261
Median rent (state)

Harriston - the verdict

Harriston ranks in the 72nd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

72nd
percentile, household income
27th
percentile, home value
42nd
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: Harriston, VA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,252 residents in Harriston, a small town within Virginia. Harriston households earn a median of $91,625 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.8%. Typical homes in Harriston are valued around $149,100, and the median resident age is 40.9 years. About 6.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,261 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Virginia run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 30.7 minutes, with 73.8% driving alone and 13.8% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 10.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,252 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$91,625 /yr

Poverty 4.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Harriston compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 72% higher than other cities
Home value 27% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% 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

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

Virginia-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Harriston near the bottom of Virginia's cities

Among the 618 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Harriston ranks #561 - the 9th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Harriston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#204 of 558
63rd percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#304 of 619
48th percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#446 of 567
21st percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#324 of 616
46th percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#561 of 618
9th 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.

72ndIncome percentile

72nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Harriston's home value compares nationally

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

$149,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 73% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Harriston $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 - Harriston, VA Harriston, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Harriston, 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 Harriston, VA median $91,625/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%
Harriston, 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 Harriston, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.9%

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

Population
1,252
Median Income
$91,625
Median Home Value
$149,100
Median Age
40.9
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Labor force participation
62.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.5%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
30.7 minutes
Drive Alone
73.8%
Carpool
12.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
13.8%

Based on 618 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 Harriston sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,261/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
10.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Glasgow
1,253 people
Penhook
1,253 people
Bracey
1,243 people
Buchanan
1,271 people
Brookneal
1,275 people
Gretna
1,275 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Harriston's 1,252 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jeffersonville, OH
1,252 people
Newell, WV
1,252 people
Buttonwillow, CA
1,251 people
March ARB, CA
1,251 people
Bethany, IL
1,253 people
Baxter, IA
1,251 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Harriston's $91,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Weston, MO
$91,625 median income
Roche Harbor, WA
$91,625 median income
Rancho Calaveras, CA
$91,629 median income
Lake Lorraine, FL
$91,619 median income
La Salle, CO
$91,635 median income
Pine Island, MN
$91,612 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Harriston, 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 Harriston, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 71.5% 9.3% 15.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.6% White 71.5% Black or African American 9.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% Two or more races 15.3% 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 Harriston 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
Harriston (this city) 1,252 $91,625
Glasgow 1,253 $50,625
Penhook 1,253 $99,176
Bracey 1,243 $68,333
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Harriston, VA?

What is the population of Harriston, VA? +

Harriston, VA has a population of 1,252 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Harriston runs $91,625, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Harriston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Harriston; 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 Harriston, VA? +

Harriston's median home value sits at $149,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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