1st Advantage MortgageIn Charles City County, Virginia, the typical household earns $75,417 a year and the typical rent is $1,099. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Charles City County, VA: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Charles City County
- What Charles City County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Charles City County
- Charles City County next to its neighbors
- Charles City County towns compared
- More Charles City County figures
- What the numbers mean for Charles City County borrowers
- A Charles City County household budget, worked through
- Steps before you apply in Charles City County
- Licensing and complaints for Charles City County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Charles City County, VA: the basics
Charles City County is home to about 6,627 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 124th most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. It covers 183 square miles of land, or about 36 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Richmond, VA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (0 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Charles City, with about 64 residents. Because Charles City County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Rent, home values and ownership in Charles City County
A typical Charles City County rental runs $1,099 a month including utilities, which is 30% below Virginia. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. Home values center on $241,400, or 3.2 years of median income. 86% of Charles City County households own their home and 14% rent.
| Housing | Charles City County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,099/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $241,400 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Charles City 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.
What Charles City County households earn
At $75,417, the typical Charles City County household income is 15% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 55th of 133.
| Income band | Share in Charles City County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.6% | +3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.6% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | -9.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Charles City County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.4%, the same as the state's 9.9%. For a borrower in Charles City County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Charles City County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Charles City County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 13% locally and 7% for Virginia. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 81% drive to work alone and 28% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.9% of the total (6.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Charles City County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.3% | -7.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.2% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Charles City County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (11 to 19 miles). New Kent County leads the group on income ($123,314), Hopewell city trails ($54,729), and Charles City County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City County | - | $75,417 | $1,099/mo | 86% |
| New Kent County, VA | 11 mi | $123,314 | $1,721/mo | 93% |
| Hopewell city, VA | 14 mi | $54,729 | $1,106/mo | 58% |
| Henrico County, VA | 15 mi | $88,783 | $1,541/mo | 64% |
| Prince George County, VA | 15 mi | $84,897 | $1,594/mo | 74% |
| James City County, VA | 15 mi | $109,985 | $1,552/mo | 77% |
| Surry County, VA | 19 mi | $78,041 | $983/mo | 80% |
Charles City County towns compared
Just one Census place, Charles City, lies mainly within Charles City County; it holds about 64 people. Charles City has no separate guide, so this county page serves it.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City | CDP | 64 | n/a | n/a | 1 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
More Charles City County figures
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. 4.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Charles City County | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.3% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.5% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 11.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 35.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 19.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
What the numbers mean for Charles City County borrowers
Where the Charles City County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 28% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Charles City County budgets.
- Fixed incomes. Charles City County's median age is 52.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Charles City County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Charles City County's medians:
- $75,417 a year is $6,285 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,099, which is 17% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,164 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Charles City County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Charles City County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Charles City County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Charles City County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Charles City County
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. More on Virginia: Virginia personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Charles City County earn?
The median is $75,417; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Charles City County?
$1,099 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Should Charles City County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 86% of Charles City County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Charles City?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Charles City County.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Charles City County or elsewhere in Virginia, the same rules apply.