Buchanan ( bə-KAN-ən) is a town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,196 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Roanoke metropolitan area. It was the western terminus of the James River and Kanawha Canal when construction on the canal ended.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code24066

Area code540

Living in Buchanan

Housing in Buchanan

$219K▲ 4.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Buchanan home is worth about $219,000, up 4.5% in a year, 47% below the Virginia typical home.

Only 1 sale in March 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Buchanan

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Buchanan for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Roanoke (18%), Fincastle (8%) and Hollins (6%). Half commute less than 21 miles.

Roanoke

18%

Fincastle

Hollins

Salem

2%Work in townlive and work in Buchanan 21 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 277Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Buchanan →

Health in Buchanan

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 45% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 78% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Virginia

4worse than VA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 28 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▼ 8 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8%More adults with COPDVA 6.2% · worse 9.3%More adults who have had cancerVA 7.7% · worse 25.8%More adults with depressionVA 21.8% · worse

Care nearby

Centra Bedford Memorial HospitalBedford · 15.1 mi · ER

Bedford Community Health CenterBedford · 15.4 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Buchanan · CMS · HRSAHealth in Buchanan →

Natural hazards in Buchanan

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 80% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

56Does Buchanan flood?paid flood claims since 1978 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Buchanan

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Buchanan →

Climate in Buchanan

Full climate →

Buchanan has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

48° / 28°Winter

68° / 43°Spring

85° / 63°Summer

68° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Buchanan get?About 11 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 31, with the last in spring around Apr 8.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Buchanan →

Schools in Buchanan

All Buchanan schools →

A⁺

School Grade A+

The public schools Buchanan’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 96% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictBotetourt County Public SchoolsSchools1

Buchanan Elementary A-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 276 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within VA. Ratings are from neighbors.