Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
74% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Monterey, where Virginia’s towns sit at 44% and U.S. towns at 29%. No town among the 254 in Virginia we compare has a higher median age than Monterey. Monterey’s trail density is 1.7 miles per square mile, above both Virginia’s towns (0.7) and U.S. towns (0.4). Monterey has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Monterey Hotel and Monterey High School. Monterey has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Monterey beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 154 in 1880, a peak of 313 in 1920, 165 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 3 maps from 1941 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Monterey, and how to reach them.
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 Monterey.
Its public schools are run by the Highland County Public Schools. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 105 | B− |
| Highland HighLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 103 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
The average trip to work in Monterey is 16 minutes. Since 2013, Monterey has added 85 jobs, to 391 in 2023. 30% of working residents work locally in Monterey.
| Monterey | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 30% | 4.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 16 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $61,000 | $102,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 10% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The typical Monterey home is worth about $281,000, up 4.4% in a year, 32% below the Virginia typical home. Monterey’s median rent is $850 a month.
| Monterey | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $850 a month | $1,762 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 65% | 68% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Among 254 Virginia towns, just 4 have a higher FEMA risk score than Monterey.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Monterey has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Of the 254 Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower July high than Monterey.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Monterey beats the Virginia average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10. 45% of Monterey adults have high blood pressure. Among 254 Virginia towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Monterey.
| Monterey | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 33% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 84% | 79% | 79% |
| What stands out | Monterey | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.5% | 10.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 14.3% | 7.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Highland Park | 0.2 mi | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Monterey; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Monterey residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
Where Monterey’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 places in Monterey on the National Register of Historic Places.
Town in Virginia, United States
Monterey is a town in and the county seat of Highland County, Virginia, United States. The population was 165 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Monterey has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
