Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
It counts 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
5.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in McDowell, below both Virginia’s towns (44%) and U.S. towns (29%). Of the 254 Virginia towns we compare, none has a higher owner-occupancy rate than McDowell. Its National Register listings include Crab Run Lane Truss Bridge and Mansion House. McDowell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where McDowell beats most towns.
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 3 maps from 1944 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
3 places in McDowell on the National Register of Historic Places.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Ordered by what stands out in McDowell.
FEMA puts 65% of McDowell’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 13% to drought. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Typical home values rose 4.1% in the year to September 2026.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The seasons in McDowell: chilly, snowy winters, pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 21° and about 39 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Just over a quarter of McDowell adults get no exercise outside work. The town beats the Virginia average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. In McDowell, 12% of adults binge drink, and 83% had a checkup this year.
| McDowell | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 33% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 83% | 79% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | McDowell | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.9% | 10.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.6% | 7.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.4% | 7.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
McDowell is unincorporated, so Highland 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.
None within 15 miles of McDowell; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 McDowell residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States
McDowell is an unincorporated community in Highland County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, McDowell had a population of 94. McDowell is 7.2 miles (11.6 km) southeast of Monterey, on U.S. Route 250. It is in the Bullpasture Valley near the mouth of Crab Run on the Bullpasture River. The community was named after James McDowell, governor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846. McDowell is the location of the May 8, 1862 Battle of McDowell during the American Civil War. The community has a post office with ZIP code 24458 that was established in 1828. The Crab Run Lane Truss Bridge, Mansion House, and McClung Farm Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
McDowell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. It counts 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
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