City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Wachapreague, VA

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

290
Residents
$56,917
Median income
$206,300
Median home
$1,054
Median rent (state)

Wachapreague - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Wachapreague lands in the 30th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

30th
percentile, household income
45th
percentile, home value
25th
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: Wachapreague, VA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 290 residents in Wachapreague, a small town within Virginia. Median household income here is $56,917 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Home values in Wachapreague run a median of $206,300, and the median resident age is 58.1 years. 28.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 40.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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 $1,054 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 81.0 out of 100 (High).

Population

290 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$56,917 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Wachapreague compare to other US cities?

Here's how Wachapreague stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 30% higher than other cities
Home value 45% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% 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 Wachapreague 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 places Wachapreague near the bottom of Virginia's cities

Among the 616 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Wachapreague ranks #487 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wachapreague only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#380 of 558
32nd percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#384 of 619
32nd percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#355 of 567
37th percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#487 of 616
0th percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#292 of 618
53rd 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.

30thIncome percentile

30th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wachapreague's home value compares nationally

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

$206,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% 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. Wachapreague $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 - Wachapreague, VA Wachapreague, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wachapreague, 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 Wachapreague, VA median $56,917/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%
Wachapreague, 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 Wachapreague, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 40.6%

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

Population
290
Median Income
$56,917
Median Home Value
$206,300
Median Age
58.1
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
40.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
253 residents254 residents255 residents256 residents257 residents258 residents 202020212022202320242025 256 residents 257 residents ▲ +0.4%
Wachapreague's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.8%
Carpool
8.4%
Public Transit
0.9%
Walk
10.3%
Work from Home
5.6%

Based on 107 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 Wachapreague sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,054/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Cumberland
291 people
Nelsonia
293 people
Fries
286 people
Keokee
294 people
Goshen
285 people
Newsoms
296 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wachapreague's 290 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mekoryuk, AK
290 people
Coalmont, IN
290 people
Orestes, IN
290 people
Patricksburg, IN
290 people
Buffalo, KS
290 people
Turon, KS
290 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wachapreague's $56,917 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Seeley, CA
$56,917 median income
Watauga, TN
$56,912 median income
Cle Elum, WA
$56,912 median income
Atwater, OH
$56,923 median income
Colfax, WA
$56,929 median income
Jeffersonville, KY
$56,932 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wachapreague, 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 Wachapreague, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.1% White 94.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 2.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 1.4% 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 Wachapreague 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
Wachapreague (this city) 290 $56,917
Cumberland 291 N/A
Nelsonia 293 $86,228
Fries 286 $29,853
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wachapreague, VA?

What is the population of Wachapreague, VA? +

290 people live in Wachapreague, VA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Wachapreague households earn a median of $56,917 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wachapreague? +

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

The median home value in Wachapreague is $206,300, 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.