Covington Historic District is a national historic district located at Covington, Virginia. The district encompasses 108 contributing buildings, one contributing site, and one contributing structure in the historic core of the city of Covington.

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7 on the National Register · #50 in VAHistoric places →

Know Covington

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Covington

Independent city in Virginia, United States

5,737Population

5.7 sq miArea

1,250 ftElevation

Covington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,737, making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. It is surrounded by Alleghany County, of which it is also the county seat. Located at the confluence of Jackson River and Dunlap Creek, Covington is one of three cities (with Roanoke and Salem) in the Roanoke Regional Partnership. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Covington with Alleghany county for statistical purposes.

Official town website ↗

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

How Covington ranks

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#1Most affordable in VA #1Lowest property tax in VA #1Highest graduation rate in VA All VA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code24426

Area code540

Living in Covington

Housing in Covington

$169K▲ 5.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Covington home is worth about $169,000, up 5.3% in a year, 59% below the Virginia typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Covington

B⁻

Safety Grade B-

Covington reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 52% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Covington 2.3

Virginia 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Covington 10.4

Virginia 13.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Covington

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About one in 4 of Covington’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Roanoke (5%), Low Moor (3%) and Clifton Forge (3%). Half commute less than 19 miles.

Roanoke

Low Moor

Clifton Forge

Hot Springs

26%Work in townlive and work in Covington 19 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 3,690Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Covington →

Health in Covington

Health Grade D

Healthier than 7% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 30% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Virginia

22worse than VA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▼ 3 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 4▼ 3 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.4%More adults with COPDVA 6.2% · worse 20.3%More smokersVA 12.2% · worse 5.1%More adults who have had a strokeVA 3.3% · worse

Care nearby

Lewisgale Hospital AlleghanyLow Moor · 2.6 mi · ER

White Sulphur Springs Health CenterWhite Sulphur Springs · 16.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Covington

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind🥶 Cold waves

180Does Covington flood?paid flood claims since 1978 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Covington

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

Climate in Covington

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Covington has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

47° / 27°Winter

67° / 42°Spring

85° / 61°Summer

68° / 44°Fall

How much snow does Covington get?About 10 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 18, with the last in spring around Apr 27.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Covington

All Covington schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Covington’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 82% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

See how Covington’s schools compare in VA →

DistrictAlleghany Highlands Public SchoolsSchools3

Jeter-Watson ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 491 students Covington Middle CMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 594 students Rivermont School - Alleghany HighlandsOther · Grades K–12 · 34 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.