What is it Like Living in Abingdon?
If you are thinking about purchasing a home in or near Abingdon, you will be joining a charming community with a population of just over 8,000. As the county seat of Washington County, Abingdon is situated in the Great Appalachian Valley. Surrounded by world-class countryside, it is known for its picturesque Historic District.
According to Sperling’s Best Places, Abingdon’s cost of living is 90.9 on a scale where 100 represents the US average. Considering that Virginia as a whole rates 114 on that same scale, that makes Abingdon one of the state’s more affordable towns.
Much of the savings come in the form of a lower average housing cost. While the median home cost nationwide is around $216,200, in Abingdon is it just $152,800. State-wide, it is $252,700.
Sperling’s Best Places offers data on income and employment as well. The unemployment rate in Abingdon is just 4.60%, significantly lower than the US average of 5.20%. Income per person is reported as $26,791 on average, with the average household income reported to be $38,529.
While this is lower than the nationwide averages for income per capita and income per household, these figures reflect the lower cost of living.
What about other aspects of life in Abingdon? Property crime has a rating of 44.2 on a scale where 1 represents low crime and 100 represents high crime. Violent crime is just 12.6—a very low rating compared to the US average of 31.1.
The school district in Abingdon is Washington County Public Schools. There are several elementary schools and one middle school and high school. Higher education options include the Virginia Highlands Community College, the Emory & Henry College, and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center.
Abingdon is a couple hours away from Blacksburg, home to the largest land-grant University in the state, Virginia Tech. The Princeton Review has ranked Virginia Tech as the number one University for “Best Quality of Life” and “Their Students Love These Colleges.”
In terms of climate, you can expect summertime highs in the mid 80s and wintertime lows in the mid-20s. The targets about 12 inches of snow each year and 45 inches of rain.
What can you do in the evenings and on the weekends in Abingdon? Both visitors and locals enjoy exploring the Abingdon Historic District, home to the Arts Depot, Fields-Penn House and Martha Washington Inn. In Abingdon, you can also enjoy a performance at the historic Barter Theatre. If you enjoy outdoor activities, there is much to explore in the surrounding region.
