1st Advantage MortgageThe median Bath County household earns $56,184, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Bath County
- Income in Bath County compared with Virginia
- What it costs to live in Bath County
- Jobs and commutes in Bath County
- Bath County towns compared
- Bath County and the counties next door
- A Bath County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Bath County
- Bath County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- Steps before you apply in Bath County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Bath County
Roughly 4,100 residents live in Bath County, Virginia, 131st by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 529 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 8 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bath County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (0 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Hot Springs, with about 487 residents, or 12% of the county. With so few households sampled, Bath County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Income in Bath County compared with Virginia
The median household income in Bath County is $56,184; statewide it is $93,170, so Bath County runs 40% below Virginia as a whole.
| Band | Bath County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.1% | +13.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -10.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Bath County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. 23.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.491 here. A household earning below the $56,184 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Bath County
Renters in Bath County pay a median of $736 a month, 53% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 26% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $206,700, about 3.7 times the median household income. 71% of Bath County households own their home and 29% rent. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Bath County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $736/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $206,700 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 26% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.2% | 4.3% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Bath County
The biggest employer of Bath County residents, by industry, is arts, lodging and food service at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bath County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 22.8% | +14.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.3% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.7% | -2.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | -1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -10.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Bath County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Bath County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 614 residents, leaving about 85% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | CDP | 487 | $104,545 | $876 | 7 mi |
| Millboro | CDP | 108 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Warm Springs | CDP | 19 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Bath County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Bath County's, from 22 to 25 miles away. Lexington city leads the group on income ($84,517), Covington city trails ($41,944), and Bath County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in West Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Bath County resident follows Virginia rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath County | - | $56,184 | $736/mo | 71% |
| Highland County, VA | 22 mi | $65,625 | $856/mo | 89% |
| Rockbridge County, VA | 23 mi | $65,469 | $925/mo | 79% |
| Pocahontas County, WV | 24 mi | $42,119 | $715/mo | 84% |
| Covington city, VA | 24 mi | $41,944 | $794/mo | 70% |
| Alleghany County, VA | 25 mi | $56,188 | $765/mo | 82% |
| Lexington city, VA | 25 mi | $84,517 | $1,081/mo | 54% |
A Bath County household budget, worked through
Here is the Bath County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,682 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($736)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,686 total minus rent leaves $950
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Bath County
Where the Bath County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Older households. A 50.9 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- 24% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Bath County residents: age, schooling, coverage
17% of Bath County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 2.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Bath County | All of Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.7% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.0% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.5% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.8% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Bath County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Bath County
Steps that save money for Bath County residents:
- Price the Bath County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Virginia.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bath County earn?
The median is $56,184; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Bath County?
$736 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Which towns does the Bath County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Hot Springs, Millboro, Warm Springs.
Are Bath County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Bath County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Virginia it is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions.