1st Advantage MortgageIn Brunswick County, Virginia, the typical household earns $53,084 a year and the typical rent is $834. 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
- Brunswick County, VA: the basics
- Household income in Brunswick County
- How Brunswick County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Brunswick County
- Brunswick County and the counties next door
- Places inside Brunswick County
- Room for a loan payment in Brunswick County
- Before borrowing in Brunswick County
- People and households in Brunswick County
- Who licenses lenders for Brunswick County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Brunswick County
- Frequently asked questions
Brunswick County, VA: the basics
Brunswick County is home to about 15,841 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 93rd most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. Land area is 566 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 28 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Brunswick County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Lawrenceville is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,272 people (8% of the county total).
Household income in Brunswick County
Half of Brunswick County households take in less than $53,084 a year and half take in more, 43% below the Virginia median of $93,170.
| Household income | Brunswick County | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.5% | +16.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +8.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.5% | -12.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -12.2 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.9%, 5 points higher than the state's 9.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.455 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $53,084 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Brunswick County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Brunswick County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 9% locally and 5% for Virginia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.3% in Brunswick County. About 80% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Brunswick County workers | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +3.5 pts |
| Public administration | 9.8% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.3% | +4.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Brunswick County
A typical Brunswick County rental runs $834 a month including utilities, which is 47% below Virginia. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $142,700, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Housing | Brunswick County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $834/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,700 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 25% | n/a |
Because most Brunswick County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Brunswick County and the counties next door
Greensville County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Warren County, is 29 miles off. Income ranges from $50,638 in Warren County to $83,704 in Dinwiddie County; 4 of these neighbors top Brunswick County's median. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County | - | $53,084 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Greensville County, VA | 18 mi | $54,668 | $969/mo | 66% |
| Emporia city, VA | 19 mi | $51,899 | $1,037/mo | 38% |
| Lunenburg County, VA | 24 mi | $54,842 | $742/mo | 71% |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 25 mi | $83,704 | $1,224/mo | 80% |
| Nottoway County, VA | 28 mi | $63,261 | $972/mo | 67% |
| Warren County, NC | 29 mi | $50,638 | $790/mo | 69% |
Places inside Brunswick County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 17% of Brunswick County residents live in one of the 6. No Brunswick County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrenceville | town | 1,272 | $33,611 | $837 | 1 mi |
| Gasburg | CDP | 485 | $77,917 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Brodnax | town | 414 | $82,396 | $1,223 | 10 mi |
| Alberta | town | 345 | $41,964 | $632 | 6 mi |
| Ebony | CDP | 95 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Warfield | CDP | 29 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Brunswick County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Brunswick County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $53,084 a year is $4,424 of gross monthly income
- 19% goes to median rent ($834)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $759 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,068 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $834, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Brunswick County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Brunswick County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Tight rental budgets. With 45% of Brunswick County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
People and households in Brunswick County
17% of Brunswick County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Brunswick County | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.6% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Brunswick County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.4% |
Who licenses lenders for Brunswick County residents
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Brunswick County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Brunswick County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Virginia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Brunswick County
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brunswick County a high-income county?
Its $53,084 median ranks 113th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Brunswick County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $834 against $1,579 statewide, and 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Brunswick County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Brunswick County?
By population: Lawrenceville, Gasburg, Brodnax, Alberta, Ebony. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Can Brunswick County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Virginia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.