Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,357, settled in 1892.
Castlewood’s best subject grade is an A for cost of living; its weakest is a D for walkability. Castlewood’s median age is 61.1 years, where Virginia’s towns sit at 38.5 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. On walkability, just 16 of Virginia’s 372 towns do worse. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 87% of the country. Castlewood’s trail density is 1.4 miles per square mile, where Virginia’s towns sit at 0.7 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Old Russell County Courthouse and Castlerun Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Castlewood has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
2,045 counted in 2010 and 1,704 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far Castlewood is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2016 and 6 maps from 1920 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Castlewood is unincorporated, so Russell County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Castlewood.
18% of Castlewood adults report frequent physical distress. Castlewood beats the Virginia average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 44% of Castlewood adults have high blood pressure.
| Castlewood | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 12% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 33% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 11% | 12% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 12% | 14% |
| What stands out | Castlewood | VA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.3% | 76.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.6% | 6.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Russell County Public Schools. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlewood ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–7 | Grades PK–7 | 354 | C+ |
| Castlewood HighLargest public high schoolGrades 8–12 | Grades 8–12 | 285 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within VA on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave Castlewood for work: only 3% work in town. Castlewood’s median household income is $61,000. Since 2013, Castlewood has added 29 jobs, to 271 in 2023.
| Castlewood | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,000 | $102,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 4.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Castlewood has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Castlewood is 85°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Castlewood; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Castlewood residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
CDP in Virginia, United States
Castlewood is a census-designated place (CDP) in western Russell County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Castlewood had a population of 1,704. Castlewood was an incorporated town from 1991 to 1997, when it reverted to unincorporated status.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.