1st Advantage MortgageIn Buckingham County, Virginia, the typical household earns $60,828 a year and the typical rent is $927. 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
- Getting oriented in Buckingham County
- Buckingham County income bands
- How Buckingham County ranks in Virginia
- Housing costs in Buckingham County
- Employment and commuting in Buckingham County
- Towns and communities in Buckingham County
- Buckingham County next to its neighbors
- Borrowing situations common in Buckingham County
- Room for a loan payment in Buckingham County
- Buckingham County demographics against Virginia
- Steps before you apply in Buckingham County
- Lender oversight for Buckingham County
- Other Virginia guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Buckingham County
Buckingham County is home to about 16,976 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 87th most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. It covers 580 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Buckingham County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Dillwyn (459 people) heads the county's list of 3 Census places, 1 incorporated and 2 census-designated.
Buckingham County income bands
The median household income in Buckingham County is $60,828; statewide it is $93,170, so Buckingham County runs 35% below Virginia as a whole. That places it 91st among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Band | Buckingham County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.8% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +11.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -14.4 pts |
27% under $35,000 and 27% at $100,000 or more: that is the Buckingham County income split. Census counts 12.5% of Buckingham County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Virginia. Gini index for Buckingham County: 0.415. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Buckingham County median.
How Buckingham County ranks in Virginia
Ranked against the other 132 county-level areas in Virginia, these are the Buckingham County figures furthest from the middle.
- Buckingham County ranks 3rd highest of 133 Virginia counties for the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 46%, against 18% statewide. Long drives make car repairs a common emergency; get two written quotes.
- On the share of mobile homes, Buckingham County sits near the top of Virginia at 24.4%, 7th highest of 133. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 15% in Buckingham County. Only 9 of 133 Virginia counties are lower. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
Housing costs in Buckingham County
Buckingham County rent at the median: $927 a month, utilities in ($1,579 in Virginia). Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. With a median value of $173,400, a typical Buckingham County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. In Buckingham County, 77% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1990.
| Measure | Buckingham County | Virginia | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 77% | 67% | +10.0 pts |
| Median home value | $173,400 | $383,700 | 55% lower |
| Vacant units | 14% | 9% | +5.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $927/mo | $1,579/mo | 41% lower |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 25% | +3.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | -1.3 pts |
With 77% of Buckingham County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Employment and commuting in Buckingham County
Top Buckingham County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 18%; second, retail trade, 14%. Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward construction (14% against 7%). Unemployment in Buckingham County, ACS five-year: 4.7%; Virginia: 4.3%. 16% of Buckingham County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 46% need 45 or more.
| Top industries | Buckingham County share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.9% | -4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.0% | +4.2 pts |
| Construction | 13.6% | +7.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.4% | +5.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.3% | -6.5 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | -1.3 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Buckingham County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Towns and communities in Buckingham County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Buckingham County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 974 people, so roughly 94% of residents live outside any named place. No Buckingham County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillwyn | town | 459 | $52,794 | $958 | 4 mi |
| Yogaville | CDP | 288 | $48,750 | $609 | 11 mi |
| Buckingham Courthouse | CDP | 227 | $112,295 | n/a | 2 mi |
Buckingham County next to its neighbors
Cumberland County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Albemarle County, is 31 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Buckingham County; Albemarle County is highest at $104,392 and Cumberland County lowest at $55,325.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham County | - | $60,828 | $927/mo | 77% |
| Cumberland County, VA | 16 mi | $55,325 | $877/mo | 76% |
| Appomattox County, VA | 21 mi | $62,853 | $855/mo | 76% |
| Fluvanna County, VA | 22 mi | $96,768 | $1,204/mo | 89% |
| Nelson County, VA | 24 mi | $72,589 | $946/mo | 80% |
| Prince Edward County, VA | 25 mi | $56,315 | $931/mo | 58% |
| Albemarle County, VA | 31 mi | $104,392 | $1,692/mo | 66% |
Borrowing situations common in Buckingham County
Where the Buckingham County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 46% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Buckingham County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile homes in Buckingham County. At 24% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Room for a loan payment in Buckingham County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Buckingham County's medians:
- Start: $5,069 gross per month ($60,828 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $927, takes 18% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,825 total minus rent leaves $898
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,253 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Buckingham County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Buckingham County demographics against Virginia
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15% of Buckingham County adults. 9.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Buckingham County | Gap to Virginia | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.5% | -27.7 pts | -7.6 pts |
| Work from home | 7.9% | -10.4 pts | -0.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.0% | +5.6 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 44.1 | +5.1 yrs | +2.6 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | +2.6 pts | -0.7 pts |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | +0.7 pts | +1.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | +0.5 pts | +0.3 pts |
| Commute length | Buckingham County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 22.0% |
| 60+ min | 23.7% |
Steps before you apply in Buckingham County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Virginia.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Buckingham County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Buckingham County, check the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Other Virginia guides
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Buckingham County household make?
About $60,828 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 35% below the Virginia median.
What is the median rent in Buckingham County, VA?
$927 a month, utilities included, or $11,124 a year.
I own my home in Buckingham County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Buckingham County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Dillwyn, Yogaville, Buckingham Courthouse.
Are Buckingham 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.