Chesterfield County, VA: personal loan guide and local data

Who lives in Chesterfield County

Chesterfield County is home to about 377,869 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 5th most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. Density: about 892.2 residents per square mile across 424 square miles of land. Metro area: Richmond, VA (OMB, 2023). Chester is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 24,474 people (6% of the county total).

The Chesterfield County job picture

Education and health care (24%), professional and administrative services (12%) and retail trade (10%) lead Chesterfield County's job mix. Chesterfield County over-indexes on finance, insurance and real estate: 10% versus 7% in Virginia. 4.6% of Chesterfield County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 16% of Chesterfield County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 10% need 45 or more. Only 3.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.

Seasonal work is common in many Chesterfield County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.

Earnings across Chesterfield County households

$101,931 is the median household income for Chesterfield County, set against $93,170 for Virginia. In the state ranking that is 23rd of 133.

On the low end, 13% of Chesterfield County households report under $35,000; at the top, 51% report $100,000-plus. 7.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). Chesterfield County scores 0.422 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.

The Chesterfield County housing market in figures

Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,629 in Chesterfield County versus $1,579 statewide. By the Census definition, 52% of Chesterfield County renters are cost-burdened. Median value $366,000; median income $101,931; ratio 3.6. The ownership rate is 77%. Nationally, Chesterfield County's $1,629 rent is 86% above the middle county.

At a $366,000 median value, many Chesterfield County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?

How Chesterfield County ranks in Virginia

• Chesterfield County ranks 5th highest of 133 Virginia counties for population: 377,869, against 8,705,170 statewide. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
• Few Virginia counties match Chesterfield County on the housing vacancy rate: 4% here, 9% for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 133. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
• The share of workers who work from home: 19.5% in Chesterfield County. Only 15 of 133 Virginia counties are higher. Remote and self-employed income may need tax returns as proof.
• On median gross rent, Chesterfield County sits near the top of Virginia at $1,629/mo, 17th highest of 133. Rent this high leaves less room in a debt-to-income test.

Towns and communities in Chesterfield County

Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 40% of Chesterfield County residents live in one of the 13. Incomes vary by place: $139,344 at the median in Woodlake, $47,781 in Bellwood. Median rent ranges from $1,039 in Matoaca to $1,902 in Woodlake. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.

CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.

The counties around Chesterfield County

The six counties whose centers lie closest to Chesterfield County's, from 12 to 21 miles away. Chesterfield County's $101,931 median trails 0 of the six and beats 6; the range runs $50,698 (Petersburg city) to $88,783 (Henrico County).

Debt-to-income, Chesterfield County edition

Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Chesterfield County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.

• Monthly gross at the median, Chesterfield County: $8,494
• Less median rent of $1,629, which is 19% of it
• $1,769: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid

Two-income households and single earners in Chesterfield County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.

Reading the Chesterfield County data as a borrower

What the Chesterfield County figures suggest, and what to check first:

• Six-figure budgets. For the 51% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
• Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
• Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.

Age, degrees and coverage in Chesterfield County

In Chesterfield County, 44% of adults have at least a four-year degree (42% in Virginia). Uninsured, Chesterfield County: 6.5%; Virginia: 6.9%.

Checking a lender's license in Virginia

Before sharing details with a lender, a Chesterfield County resident can confirm its license with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.

A Chesterfield County borrower's checklist

Before you apply, wherever you live in Chesterfield County:

• Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
• Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
• Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
• Ask a Chesterfield County credit union about member loans.

Related local guides

Next step up from Chesterfield County:

• Virginia state guide