1st Advantage MortgageIn Alleghany County, Virginia, the typical household earns $56,188 a year and the typical rent is $765. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Virginia license first.
On this page
- Alleghany County, VA: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Alleghany County
- What Alleghany County households earn
- Renting and owning in Alleghany County
- The counties around Alleghany County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Alleghany County
- Debt-to-income at Alleghany County's medians
- Reading the Alleghany County data as a borrower
- Alleghany County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Virginia rules that apply in Alleghany County
- Steps before you apply in Alleghany County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Alleghany County, VA: the basics
Alleghany County is home to about 14,859 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 99th most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. It covers 447 square miles of land, or about 33 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Alleghany County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (2 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Clifton Forge, with about 3,447 residents, or 23% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Alleghany County
The biggest employer of Alleghany County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). Manufacturing stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Alleghany County averages 2.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.0% of the total (6.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Alleghany County share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.3% | +11.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +2.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Alleghany County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Alleghany County households earn
At $56,188, the typical Alleghany County household income is 14% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Alleghany County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.7% | +14.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -9.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -14.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Alleghany County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.6%, 2 points higher than the state's 9.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.471 here. None of these numbers decides a Alleghany County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Alleghany County
Renters in Alleghany County pay a median of $765 a month, 52% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. Home values center on $125,800, or 2.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. The median home was built in 1969, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Alleghany County | Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $765/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $125,800 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The counties around Alleghany County
Covington city is closest, 1 miles from center to center; the sixth, Rockbridge County, is 31 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Alleghany County; Botetourt County is highest at $81,213 and Covington city lowest at $41,944. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County | - | $56,188 | $765/mo | 82% |
| Covington city, VA | 1 mi | $41,944 | $794/mo | 70% |
| Botetourt County, VA | 19 mi | $81,213 | $1,035/mo | 86% |
| Bath County, VA | 25 mi | $56,184 | $736/mo | 71% |
| Craig County, VA | 25 mi | $69,057 | $713/mo | 84% |
| Greenbrier County, WV | 26 mi | $48,218 | $868/mo | 73% |
| Rockbridge County, VA | 31 mi | $65,469 | $925/mo | 79% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Alleghany County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Alleghany County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 5,270 people, so roughly 65% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton Forge | town | 3,447 | $40,000 | $592 | 10 mi |
| Mallow | CDP | 537 | $50,347 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Low Moor | CDP | 430 | $44,900 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Iron Gate | town | 426 | $70,000 | $715 | 12 mi |
| Callaghan | CDP | 198 | $74,271 | $575 | 5 mi |
| Selma | CDP | 146 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Cliftondale Park | CDP | 86 | $53,241 | n/a | 12 mi |
Debt-to-income at Alleghany County's medians
How much room does a median Alleghany County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Alleghany County: $4,682
- Rent at the median, $765, takes 16% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,248 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Alleghany County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Alleghany County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Alleghany County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Alleghany County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.6%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| People and households | Alleghany County | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.6% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.4% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Alleghany County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
Virginia rules that apply in Alleghany County
Consumer lenders serving Alleghany County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Virginia that is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Steps before you apply in Alleghany County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Alleghany County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Alleghany County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Alleghany County?
$56,188 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 104th of 133 in the state.
Is Alleghany County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $765 against $1,579 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Alleghany County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Clifton Forge, Mallow, Low Moor, Iron Gate, Callaghan.
Does living in Alleghany County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Alleghany County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Alleghany County residents?
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.