1st Advantage MortgageAbout 56% of Buena Vista city homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $57,833. 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
- Buena Vista city at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Buena Vista city
- The Buena Vista city job picture
- Housing costs in Buena Vista city
- How Buena Vista city compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Buena Vista city
- A Buena Vista city household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Buena Vista city
- More Buena Vista city figures
- A Buena Vista city borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- More guides for Buena Vista city
- Frequently asked questions
Buena Vista city at a glance
Roughly 6,593 residents live in Buena Vista city, Virginia, 125th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 6 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,024 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Buena Vista city in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Buena Vista, with about 6,593 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Buena Vista city figure on this page as a rough guide.
Paychecks and income spread in Buena Vista city
The median household income in Buena Vista city is $57,833; statewide it is $93,170, so Buena Vista city runs 38% below Virginia as a whole.
| Band | Buena Vista city | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.4% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.9% | +17.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -13.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.2% | -16.5 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.8% of Buena Vista city residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Virginia. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Buena Vista city job picture
The biggest employer of Buena Vista city residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward education and health care (30% against 22%). The survey's unemployment rate for Buena Vista city averages 1.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Buena Vista city workers | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.1% | +7.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.8% | +3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -8.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Buena Vista city
Renters in Buena Vista city pay a median of $1,112 a month, 30% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $156,200, a typical Buena Vista city house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 56%.
| Buena Vista city | Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,112/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $156,200 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 56% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 9% | n/a |
How Buena Vista city compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Lexington city at 6 miles out to Botetourt County at 27. All of the six report a higher median household income than Buena Vista city; Lexington city is highest at $84,517 and Lynchburg city lowest at $57,947.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista city | - | $57,833 | $1,112/mo | 56% |
| Lexington city, VA | 6 mi | $84,517 | $1,081/mo | 54% |
| Rockbridge County, VA | 8 mi | $65,469 | $925/mo | 79% |
| Amherst County, VA | 13 mi | $68,724 | $871/mo | 81% |
| Lynchburg city, VA | 25 mi | $57,947 | $1,073/mo | 49% |
| Nelson County, VA | 26 mi | $72,589 | $946/mo | 80% |
| Botetourt County, VA | 27 mi | $81,213 | $1,035/mo | 86% |
Towns and communities in Buena Vista city
Buena Vista is the only Census place mainly inside Buena Vista city, with about 6,593 of the county's 6,593 residents. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista | city | 6,593 | $57,833 | $1,112 | 0 mi |
A Buena Vista city household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Buena Vista city household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,819 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,112, or 23 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,687 total minus rent leaves $575
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,057 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Buena Vista city's.
Borrowing situations common in Buena Vista city
Where the Buena Vista city numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Buena Vista city borrower sees (free reports).
More Buena Vista city figures
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 4.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Buena Vista city | All of Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.5% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.8% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
A Buena Vista city borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
Before sharing details with a lender, a Buena Vista city resident can confirm its license with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Buena Vista city
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Buena Vista city earn?
The median is $57,833; 17% earn $100,000 or more and 30% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Buena Vista city?
$1,112 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Does this page cover Buena Vista?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Buena Vista city.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Buena Vista city or elsewhere in Virginia, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Buena Vista city?
Start with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.