Rural Retreat Authority

Rural Retreat is a middle-income, family-oriented small town of 1,644 with home prices 2.1× below the Virginia median.

Rural Retreat, Virginia

Rural Retreat is one of the smaller incorporated places in Wythe County, Virginia, with a population of 1,644. Median household income is $61,979.

Definition and scope

Rural Retreat sits within Wythe County, Virginia, one of Virginia's administrative subdivisions. Local services and ordinances are coordinated through county and state-level agencies. The city operates within Congressional District 9.

Who lives here

Rural Retreat has approximately 1,644 residents. The median age is 41.0 years. Roughly 82% of housing units are owner-occupied. The median home value is $185,800.

Demographic composition (Census 2023 ACS5):

• White (non-Hispanic): 94.6%
• Black or African American: 0.0%
• Hispanic or Latino: 1.8%
• Asian: 0.0%

Economy and earnings

Median household income in Rural Retreat is $61,979. Poverty rate stands at 22.3%. Unemployment rate at last release was 1.2%. Educational attainment: 22.7% of residents 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Public services and infrastructure

Available public services on file for Rural Retreat:

• Public schools: 3
• Public libraries: 1
• Fire stations: 3
• Police stations: 3
• Hospitals: 1

Getting around

The nearest commercial airport serving Rural Retreat is Mountain Empire Airport. Federal court business routes through Wythe County Circuit Court Building. For passenger rail, the nearest Amtrak station is Hinton, West Virginia.

Geography and climate

Elevation here is 2,536 feet. The USDA plant hardiness zone is 7b.

References

• Virginia State Authority — state-level reference for Virginia.
• U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — population, income, demographic data.
• Authority Network America — federal- and network-level reference.