OpalVA
The town, settled in 1888, counts 984 residents.
Is Opal a good place to live?
Opal’s typical journey to work is 41 minutes, above both Virginia’s towns (27 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Among 254 Virginia towns, just one has a higher owner-occupancy rate than Opal. 11% of the land in Opal is conserved, above both Virginia’s towns (4.7%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Opal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
984 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Opal.
Opal skews younger than Virginia
The share of adults 25 and older in Opal who hold a bachelor’s degree or more is 36%. People 65 and older are 6% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 33% of residents (23% statewide). The town’s median age is 27.7 years.
| Opal | Typical Virginia town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.7 years | 38.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 44% | 29% |
Ages · share of residents
Education · adults 25 and older
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5 points. Across Virginia, 50.6% of residents are women. Among residents 25 to 34, 89% are men (VA 51%).
| Opal | VA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.5% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 20% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.4% | 13.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 17.4% | 13.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.1% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.4% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 4.5% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 1.2% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 16.4% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.2% | 23.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 28.9% | 17.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 0% | 7.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.6% | 23.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.8% | 18.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,000, single groups can be off by several points
The biggest natural risk in Opal is inland flooding, at a low overall level
Opal’s risk rating from FEMA works out to 32 of 100. FEMA puts 73% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 5% to strong winds. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in just over two thirds of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Opal
A winter brings about 21 inches of snow, with January nights at 25° and July afternoons at 87°.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most of Opal’s workers leave town for work
Among working residents in Opal, 1.8% work locally. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Opal dropped by 161, to 412. For half of commuters, work is under 29 miles away. The top destinations are Warrenton (11%), Chantilly (4%) and Washington (3%).
| Opal | Typical Virginia town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.8% | 4.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
10.9% of the land in Opal is protected from building
1.7 miles of trail. The density of trails for Opal is 0.6 miles per square mile.
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Opal stands out in Virginia and nationally, with more of its adults who binge drink
In Opal, just over one in ten adults report frequent physical distress. Of 32 CDC measures, Opal beats the Virginia average on 7 and trails it on 2. Among adults locally, 29% have high blood pressure and 9.6% have diabetes.
| Opal | Typical Virginia town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 33% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.6% | 11% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 23% | 25% |
| What stands out | Opal | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 2.5% | 3.3% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 9.6% | 12.5% |
| More binge drinkers | 18.2% | 14.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about Opal
Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center and 38 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Opal. Close and well known come first.
Big draw31 mi LandmarkMount Weather Emergency Operations Center
21 mi National ParkShenandoah National Park1.7M visitors a year
28 mi MuseumSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center1.6M visitors a year
29 mi National MonumentGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument72K visitors a year
37 mi CaveLuray Caverns36 mi Scenic driveSkyline DrivePhoto credits
Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center: Unknown, Public domain · Shenandoah National Park: Image copyright 2005 by user G. Edward Johnson (user Lorax) and released under t, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · George Washington Birthplace National Monument: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Public domain · Luray Caverns: Paulo Ordoveza from Washington, DC, CC BY 2.0 · Skyline Drive: Image copyright 2005 by user G. Edward Johnson (user Lorax) and released under t, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Moving to Opal: who provides what
Opal is unincorporated, so Fauquier 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.
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Opal; the nearest are
About 8 of every 100 Opal residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Virginia.
Questions about Opal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Opal, VA a good place to live?
Opal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Say something about Opal.
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.