1st Advantage MortgageThe median Bland County household earns $61,216, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Bland County at a glance
- Income in Bland County compared with Virginia
- Renting and owning in Bland County
- The Bland County job picture
- Towns and communities in Bland County
- Bland County next to its neighbors
- Room for a loan payment in Bland County
- Borrowing situations common in Bland County
- Bland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Bland County
- Licensing and complaints for Bland County
- More guides for Bland County
- Frequently asked questions
Bland County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bland County's population at 6,199; only 126 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 358 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 17 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Bland County, Bland leads by population with about 564; 0 of the 4 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Bland County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Bland County compared with Virginia
The median household income in Bland County is $61,216; statewide it is $93,170, so Bland County runs 34% below Virginia as a whole. That places it 90th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Bland County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.1% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.9% | +11.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -13.4 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.6%, 4 points higher than the state's 9.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Bland County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Bland County
A typical Bland County rental runs $644 a month including utilities, which is 59% below Virginia. 0% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent. Home values center on $152,100, or 2.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 86% of homes. The median year built is 1984.
| Measure | Bland County | Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $644/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $152,100 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 0% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.7% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bland County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The Bland County job picture
The biggest employer of Bland County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 26% of workers, followed by education and health care (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.3% in Bland County. About 76% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Bland County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.4% | +19.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | -1.2 pts |
| Other services | 7.0% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.4% | +1.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Bland County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 16% of Bland County residents live in one of the 4. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bland | CDP | 564 | $62,404 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Bastian | CDP | 374 | $41,711 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Mechanicsburg | CDP | 52 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Rocky Gap | CDP | 7 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Bland County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Bland County's, from 16 to 30 miles away. Income ranges from $47,313 in Tazewell County to $65,691 in Giles County; 2 of these neighbors top Bland County's median. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bland County | - | $61,216 | $644/mo | 86% |
| Wythe County, VA | 16 mi | $57,745 | $764/mo | 77% |
| Mercer County, WV | 19 mi | $53,210 | $810/mo | 73% |
| Pulaski County, VA | 23 mi | $62,028 | $813/mo | 73% |
| Tazewell County, VA | 24 mi | $47,313 | $795/mo | 74% |
| Giles County, VA | 27 mi | $65,691 | $789/mo | 79% |
| Smyth County, VA | 30 mi | $49,883 | $731/mo | 71% |
Room for a loan payment in Bland County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Bland County's medians:
- Start: $5,101 gross per month ($61,216 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $644, takes 13% of that
- $1,141: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,652 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Bland County
A few patterns in the Bland County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 23% of Bland County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 26% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.1, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Bland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
18% of Bland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Bland County | Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.4% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Bland County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Steps before you apply in Bland County
A short checklist for Bland County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bland County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Virginia.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Bland County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bland County borrowers answers to the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
More guides for Bland County
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bland County?
$61,216 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 90th of 133 in the state.
How much is rent in Bland County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $644 a month; 0% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Bland?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Bland County, such as Bastian, Mechanicsburg, Rocky Gap.
Is the fit check different in Bland County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Bland County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Virginia it is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions.