Powhatan County
VA · Pop. 31,074 · Mixed County
Powhatan County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Virginia, spanning 260 square miles with 31,074 residents at a density of 119.5 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, soybeans. The median home price is $381,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.63%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 178-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.4°F and average winter lows of 25.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.1 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital is 12.2 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 92% of homes. On the hazard side, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.63% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 92% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.7% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 3.3% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A median home price of $381,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
- The nearest hospital, Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital, is 12.2 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Powhatan County, VA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 39/100
- Median home price
- $381k
- Property tax
- 0.63%
- Growing season
- 178 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 43.1"
- Broadband
- 92%
- Nearest hospital
- Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital, 12.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Powhatan County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Powhatan County?
- Powhatan County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 178-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.4°F, and average winter lows of 25.3°F. The established crops are hay, corn, soybeans.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $381,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.63%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 92% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital is 12.2 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Virginia Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Virginia
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The closest counties to Powhatan County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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