1st Advantage MortgageIn Emporia city, Virginia, the typical household earns $51,899 a year and the typical rent is $1,037. 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
- Emporia city, VA: the basics
- Housing costs in Emporia city
- Household income in Emporia city
- Employment and commuting in Emporia city
- Emporia city towns compared
- The counties around Emporia city
- Debt-to-income at Emporia city's medians
- Reading the Emporia city data as a borrower
- People and households in Emporia city
- A Emporia city borrower's checklist
- Virginia rules that apply in Emporia city
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Emporia city, VA: the basics
Roughly 5,547 residents live in Emporia city, Virginia, 129th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. It covers 7 square miles of land, or about 837 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Emporia city is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 1 Census place inside Emporia city, Emporia leads by population with about 5,547. Because Emporia city is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Housing costs in Emporia city
A typical Emporia city rental runs $1,037 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Virginia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. Home values center on $148,500, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 38%.
| Measure | Emporia city | Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,037/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $148,500 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 38% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 9% | n/a |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment.
Household income in Emporia city
Half of Emporia city households take in less than $51,899 a year and half take in more, 44% below the Virginia median of $93,170. In the state ranking that is 117th of 133.
| Band | Emporia city | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.0% | +18.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.7% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -14.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Emporia city households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.8%, 6 points higher than the state's 9.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.439 here. For a borrower in Emporia city, 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.
Employment and commuting in Emporia city
Manufacturing employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 7% for Virginia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.9% in Emporia city. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Emporia city | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 17.6% | +10.6 pts |
| Public administration | 13.8% | +4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +4.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.0% | +7.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 9.4% | -12.9 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.
Emporia city towns compared
Emporia is the only Census place mainly inside Emporia city, with about 5,547 of the county's 5,547 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia | city | 5,547 | $51,899 | $1,037 | 0 mi |
The counties around Emporia city
Six nearby counties, 2 to 27 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $50,086 in Northampton County to $83,704 in Dinwiddie County; 5 of these neighbors top Emporia city's median. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia city | - | $51,899 | $1,037/mo | 38% |
| Greensville County, VA | 2 mi | $54,668 | $969/mo | 66% |
| Brunswick County, VA | 19 mi | $53,084 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Northampton County, NC | 20 mi | $50,086 | $758/mo | 75% |
| Sussex County, VA | 22 mi | $63,530 | $907/mo | 70% |
| Southampton County, VA | 24 mi | $70,795 | $930/mo | 76% |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 27 mi | $83,704 | $1,224/mo | 80% |
Debt-to-income at Emporia city's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Emporia city household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Emporia city: $4,325
- Median rent: $1,037, or 24 cents of every gross dollar
- $520: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $1,860 total minus rent leaves $823
Two-income households and single earners in Emporia city land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Emporia city data as a borrower
Where the Emporia city numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Emporia city renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Emporia city borrower sees (free reports).
People and households in Emporia city
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Emporia city | Virginia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.0% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.4% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.5% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Emporia city |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
A Emporia city borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Emporia city:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Virginia rules that apply in Emporia city
Consumer lenders serving Emporia city are licensed by the state, not the county; in Virginia that is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Emporia city earn?
The median is $51,899; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 36% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Emporia city?
$1,037 a month at the median, about 24% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Emporia city?
By population: Emporia. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Are Emporia city 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Emporia city residents?
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.