1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clarke County household earns $117,111, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Clarke County
- The Clarke County job picture
- What Clarke County households earn
- Clarke County housing compared with Virginia
- The counties around Clarke County
- Clarke County towns compared
- Clarke County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Clarke County
- What a median Clarke County budget can carry
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Clarke County
Roughly 15,216 residents live in Clarke County, Virginia, 98th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 176 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 86 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (2 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Berryville, with about 4,707 residents, or 31% of the county.
The Clarke County job picture
The biggest employer of Clarke County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (18%). Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward construction (11% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Clarke County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). 31% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 21% work from home.
| Where residents work | Clarke County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 17.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 11.3% | +4.8 pts |
| Public administration | 9.9% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -1.6 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
What Clarke County households earn
At $117,111, the typical Clarke County household income is 78% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 13th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Household income | Clarke County | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.7% | -3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.4% | -3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.2% | +5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.7% | +2.0 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 54% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 7.0% of Clarke County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Virginia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Clarke County housing compared with Virginia
Renters in Clarke County pay a median of $1,371 a month, 13% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 68% of renter households here. With a median value of $550,100, a typical Clarke County house costs 4.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. The median year built is 1980.
| Cost | Clarke County | Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,371/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $550,100 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 68% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.4% | 4.3% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The counties around Clarke County
Six nearby counties, 11 to 23 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $63,974 in Winchester city to $181,765 in Loudoun County; 1 of these neighbors top Clarke County's median. Some neighbors are in West Virginia. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Clarke County resident follows Virginia rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County | - | $117,111 | $1,371/mo | 81% |
| Winchester city, VA | 11 mi | $63,974 | $1,315/mo | 44% |
| Jefferson County, WV | 15 mi | $98,806 | $1,108/mo | 80% |
| Frederick County, VA | 16 mi | $97,606 | $1,507/mo | 79% |
| Warren County, VA | 18 mi | $84,682 | $1,199/mo | 76% |
| Loudoun County, VA | 19 mi | $181,765 | $2,386/mo | 78% |
| Berkeley County, WV | 23 mi | $80,815 | $1,233/mo | 76% |
Clarke County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Clarke County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 6,190 people, so roughly 59% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $102,788 at the median in Berryville, $88,616 in Boyce. Live in one of these Clarke County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berryville | town | 4,707 | $102,788 | $1,443 | 2 mi |
| Boyce | town | 891 | $88,616 | $1,375 | 4 mi |
| Shenandoah Retreat | CDP | 592 | $96,591 | n/a | 7 mi |
Clarke County households compared
College graduates make up 40% of the adult population. 5.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Clarke County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.8% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.4% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Clarke County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.0% |
| 60+ min | 15.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Clarke County
Where the Clarke County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 31% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Clarke County budgets.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.4, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 54% of Clarke County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 68% of Clarke County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
What a median Clarke County budget can carry
Here is the Clarke County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $9,759 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,371, which is 14% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $3,513 total minus rent leaves $2,142
If your rent is above $1,371, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Clarke County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Clarke County-area credit union.
- Verify the Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Clarke County, check the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clarke County a high-income county?
Its $117,111 median ranks 13th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Clarke County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,371 against $1,579 statewide, and 68% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Clarke County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Clarke County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Clarke County?
By population: Berryville, Boyce, Shenandoah Retreat. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Can Clarke 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.