1st Advantage MortgageThe median Augusta County household earns $82,049, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Virginia before sharing details.
On this page
- Augusta County by the numbers
- What Augusta County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Augusta County
- How Augusta County residents earn a living
- How Augusta County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Augusta County
- Budget math at the Augusta County median
- Augusta County households compared
- Reading the Augusta County data as a borrower
- Virginia rules that apply in Augusta County
- Steps before you apply in Augusta County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Augusta County by the numbers
Augusta County is home to about 78,033 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. Land area is 967 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 81 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (1 incorporated, 17 census-designated); the largest is Stuarts Draft, with about 11,780 residents, or 15% of the county.
What Augusta County households earn
Half of Augusta County households take in less than $82,049 a year and half take in more, 12% below the Virginia median of $93,170. In the state ranking that is 46th of 133.
| Band | Augusta County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.4% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -10.5 pts |
About 19% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. 6.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.416 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Augusta County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Rent, home values and ownership in Augusta County
Renters in Augusta County pay a median of $1,136 a month, 28% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $306,100, about 3.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1989.
| Measure | Augusta County | Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,136/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $306,100 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.0% | 4.3% | 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).
How Augusta County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 17% locally and 7% for Virginia. The survey's unemployment rate for Augusta County averages 2.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (6.1% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Augusta County workers | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.5% | +9.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.9% | -6.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.4% | +1.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Augusta County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Augusta County's, from 4 to 30 miles away. Income ranges from $59,994 in Waynesboro city to $80,693 in Rockingham County; none of these neighbors top Augusta County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta County | - | $82,049 | $1,136/mo | 80% |
| Staunton city, VA | 4 mi | $65,581 | $1,024/mo | 61% |
| Waynesboro city, VA | 15 mi | $59,994 | $1,020/mo | 60% |
| Harrisonburg city, VA | 23 mi | $62,254 | $1,184/mo | 39% |
| Highland County, VA | 27 mi | $65,625 | $856/mo | 89% |
| Rockingham County, VA | 27 mi | $80,693 | $1,160/mo | 75% |
| Rockbridge County, VA | 30 mi | $65,469 | $925/mo | 79% |
Places inside Augusta County
18 Census places fall mainly inside Augusta County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 39,514 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Weyers Cave has the highest median household income on the list ($97,791) and Jolivue the lowest ($38,214), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $722 in Mount Sidney to $1,483 in Fishersville. No Augusta County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 18.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuarts Draft | CDP | 11,780 | $79,332 | $1,201 | 12 mi |
| Fishersville | CDP | 9,484 | $83,671 | $1,483 | 10 mi |
| Verona | CDP | 4,165 | $74,000 | $1,153 | 7 mi |
| Weyers Cave | CDP | 2,744 | $97,791 | $1,023 | 14 mi |
| Dooms | CDP | 1,454 | $87,292 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Lyndhurst | CDP | 1,309 | $76,111 | $1,089 | 15 mi |
| Crimora | CDP | 1,252 | $83,158 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Harriston | CDP | 1,212 | $93,250 | $1,051 | 17 mi |
| Greenville | CDP | 1,183 | $41,691 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Craigsville | town | 1,104 | $39,609 | $738 | 15 mi |
| Jolivue | CDP | 1,075 | $38,214 | $1,159 | 6 mi |
| New Hope | CDP | 900 | $87,661 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Mount Sidney | CDP | 703 | $93,050 | $722 | 11 mi |
| Deerfield | CDP | 439 | $88,657 | n/a | 15 mi |
Budget math at the Augusta County median
Augusta County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Augusta County: $6,837
- Less median rent of $1,136, which is 17% of it
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,804 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,136, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Augusta County households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.6%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| Augusta County | Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.1% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Reading the Augusta County data as a borrower
What the Augusta County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Older households. A 45.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Virginia rules that apply in Augusta County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Augusta County borrowers answers to the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Augusta County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Augusta County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Augusta County earn?
The median is $82,049; 39% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Augusta County rent compare with Virginia?
$1,136 locally versus $1,579 for the state, 28% below.
I own my home in Augusta County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Augusta County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Stuarts Draft, Fishersville, Verona, Weyers Cave, Dooms and 13 more.
Is the fit check different in Augusta County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.