Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Home to 987 people, the town was settled in 1887.
Only 4 of the 254 Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Motley. Motley’s trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile, above both Virginia’s towns (0.7) and U.S. towns (0.4). Motley has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2017 and 3 maps from 1951 on.
1,015 counted in 2010 and 825 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
Ordered by what stands out in Motley.
The middle household income in Motley is $56,000. The top destinations are Altavista (23%), Chatham (5%) and Lynchburg (4%). The share of working residents in Motley who work locally: 0.4%. The median commute is under 18 miles.
| Motley | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,000 | $102,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.4% | 4.9% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expect July afternoons of 87° and January nights of 27°, with about 6 inches of snow a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
FEMA puts 80% of Motley’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding. The FEMA risk score for Motley comes to 38 of 100. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 62% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Of the 254 Virginia towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Motley. In Motley, 41% of adults get no exercise outside work. CDC measures, 32 in all: Motley beats Virginia on 3 and trails on 22.
| Motley | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 17% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 12% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 12% | 14% |
| What stands out | Motley | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10.1% | 14.5% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 84.2% | 76.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.8% | 6.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Motley’s midpoint rent is $785 a month. For households locally, the share who live in a home they own is 72%.
| Motley | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $785 a month | $1,762 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 68% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Motley is unincorporated, so Pittsylvania 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.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
None within 15 miles of Motley; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Motley residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
Census-designated place in Virginia, US
Motley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. It was named for a notable Virginia family in colonial times, the Motleys, two of whom, Joseph and his son David James Motley, fought in the American Revolution. The population as of the 2010 Census was 1,015 and was 825 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.
Motley has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Ask a question, answer one, post a photo or an event. Free, and the parts only a neighbor would know are the parts worth reading.