Wakefield is an incorporated town in Sussex County, Virginia, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 729. Wakefield is widely known for the Virginia Diner, the Airfield Conference and 4-H Educational Center, and the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office for Eastern Virginia, Southeastern Maryland and Northeastern North Carolina, which issues weather alerts for the region including the cities of Elizabeth City, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell, Salisbury and Ocean City MD, though the latter two are actually located outside the town limits. Wakefield also hosts the Virginia Shad Planking.

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

How Wakefield ranks

All →

#8Lowest depression in VA #7Most trails in VA #9Lowest obesity in VA All VA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code23888

Area code434

Living in Wakefield

Housing in Wakefield

$216K▲ 7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Wakefield home is worth about $216,000, up 7% in a year, 48% below the Virginia typical home.

Only 1 sale in May 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 Wakefield

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Wakefield for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are Suffolk (5%), Waverly (5%) and Richmond (4%). Half commute less than 27 miles.

Suffolk

Waverly

Richmond

Smithfield

8%Work in townlive and work in Wakefield 27 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 381Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Wakefield →

Health in Wakefield

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 18% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Virginia

3better than VA·18worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 11 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▼ 3 close Habits 1▲ 2▼ 1 close Care 2▲ 1▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.6%Fewer binge drinkersVA 14.5% · better 82.3%More adults treating high blood pressureVA 76.8% · better 19.2%More older adults who have lost all their teethVA 11.1% · worse

Care nearby

Bon Secours Southampton Memorial HospitalFranklin · 19.4 mi · ER

Ivor Dental CenterIvor · 6.6 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 Wakefield · CMS · HRSAHealth in Wakefield →

Natural hazards in Wakefield

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 20% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌵 Drought🌀 Hurricanes

0Does Wakefield flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Wakefield

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

Climate in Wakefield

Full climate →

Wakefield has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

52° / 31°Winter

70° / 46°Spring

88° / 66°Summer

72° / 49°Fall

How much snow does Wakefield get?About 6 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 30, with the last in spring around Apr 12.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Wakefield

All Wakefield schools →

School Grade D

The public schools Wakefield’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 86% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

#10Best public schoolsof 219 in VA

Schools1

Tidewater AcademyOther · Grades K–12 · 166 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.