City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Wattsville, VA

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

1,425
Residents
$66,677
Median income
$170,500
Median home
$1,054
Median rent (state)

Wattsville - the verdict

Wattsville ranks in the 45th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

45th
percentile, household income
34th
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: Wattsville, VA

Wattsville is a small town in Virginia, home to 1,425 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Wattsville brings in $66,677 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.9%. Typical homes in Wattsville are valued around $170,500, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. Educational attainment runs 17.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 62.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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 $1,054 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Virginia run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 81.0 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,425 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$66,677 /yr

Poverty 2.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Wattsville compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 45% higher than other cities
Home value 34% 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 Wattsville against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Virginia-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of Virginia's city distribution

Among the 567 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Wattsville ranks #400 - the 29th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Wattsville only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#318 of 558
43rd percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#384 of 619
32nd percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#400 of 567
29th percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#398 of 616
35th percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#430 of 618
30th 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.

45thIncome percentile

45th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wattsville's home value compares nationally

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

$170,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Wattsville $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 - Wattsville, VA Wattsville, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, VA median $66,677/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%
Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.1%

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

Population
1,425
Median Income
$66,677
Median Home Value
$170,500
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Labor force participation
62.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.0%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
67.2%
Carpool
0.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
8.9%
Work from Home
1.4%
Other
22.4%

Based on 695 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 Wattsville 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

Basye
1,416 people
Brightwood
1,436 people
Benns Church
1,443 people
Lyndhurst
1,401 people
Bowling Green
1,455 people
Boswell's Corner
1,459 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Wattsville's 1,425 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Inman, KS
1,425 people
Jonesville, LA
1,425 people
Blossom, TX
1,425 people
Canyon Day, AZ
1,426 people
Boulevard Gardens, FL
1,426 people
Cerro Gordo, IL
1,426 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Wattsville's $66,677 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grand Junction, CO
$66,676 median income
Sunset, LA
$66,684 median income
Summit Hill, PA
$66,685 median income
Toluca, IL
$66,667 median income
Callender, IA
$66,667 median income
Niotaze, KS
$66,667 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Wattsville, 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 Wattsville, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 57.8% 30.2% 11.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 15.3% White 57.8% Black or African American 30.2% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 11.4% 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 Wattsville 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
Wattsville (this city) 1,425 $66,677
Basye 1,416 $69,881
Brightwood 1,436 $90,208
Benns Church 1,443 $69,598
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Wattsville, VA?

What is the population of Wattsville, VA? +

1,425 people live in Wattsville, VA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Wattsville runs $66,677, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Wattsville? +

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

A typical home in Wattsville is worth $170,500, 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.