1st Advantage MortgageFluvanna County households have a median income of $96,768 and median rent of $1,204 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Fluvanna County, VA: the basics
- How much Fluvanna County households make
- Housing costs in Fluvanna County
- Jobs and commutes in Fluvanna County
- Fluvanna County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Fluvanna County
- Debt-to-income at Fluvanna County's medians
- Fluvanna County households compared
- Reading the Fluvanna County data as a borrower
- Four steps for Fluvanna County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Fluvanna County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Fluvanna County, VA: the basics
With an estimated 28,092 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Fluvanna County ranks 64th of 133 in Virginia for population. Packed into 287 square miles, that is close to 98 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Charlottesville, VA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (1 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Lake Monticello, with about 10,662 residents, or 38% of the county.
How much Fluvanna County households make
At $96,768, the typical Fluvanna County household income is 47% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 25 Virginia counties post a higher median.
| Band | Fluvanna County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.2% | -3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.3% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.7% | +7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.8% | -5.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Fluvanna County households make $100,000 or more, and 14% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 7.7%, 2 points lower than the state's 9.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.408 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Fluvanna County median.
Housing costs in Fluvanna County
Renters in Fluvanna County pay a median of $1,204 a month, 24% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. Home values center on $314,100, or 3.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 89% of homes.
| Home costs | Fluvanna County | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,204/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $314,100 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 89% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.3% | 4.3% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Fluvanna 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.
Jobs and commutes in Fluvanna County
Education and health care employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 33% locally and 22% for Virginia. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Fluvanna County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.0% | +10.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.2% | -2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Other services | 5.1% | -0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Fluvanna County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 22 miles). Goochland County leads the group on income ($118,931), Cumberland County trails ($55,325), and Fluvanna County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluvanna County | - | $96,768 | $1,204/mo | 89% |
| Charlottesville city, VA | 18 mi | $74,824 | $1,540/mo | 44% |
| Albemarle County, VA | 20 mi | $104,392 | $1,692/mo | 66% |
| Louisa County, VA | 20 mi | $86,689 | $1,220/mo | 82% |
| Goochland County, VA | 21 mi | $118,931 | $1,614/mo | 85% |
| Cumberland County, VA | 22 mi | $55,325 | $877/mo | 76% |
| Buckingham County, VA | 22 mi | $60,828 | $927/mo | 77% |
Places inside Fluvanna County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 40% of Fluvanna County residents live in one of the 4. None of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Monticello | CDP | 10,662 | $106,818 | $1,981 | 7 mi |
| Scottsville | town | 510 | $40,417 | $900 | 11 mi |
| Palmyra | CDP | 171 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| Columbia | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Debt-to-income at Fluvanna County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Fluvanna County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $8,064 gross per month ($96,768 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,204, which is 15% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,699 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Fluvanna County households compared
37% of Fluvanna County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.7%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| Residents | Fluvanna County | Virginia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.3% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Fluvanna County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 36.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Reading the Fluvanna County data as a borrower
Where the Fluvanna County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 24% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Fluvanna County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Higher earners. 48% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Four steps for Fluvanna County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fluvanna County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Ask a Fluvanna County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Fluvanna County
Fluvanna County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Fluvanna County?
$96,768 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 26th of 133 in the state.
Is Fluvanna County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,204 against $1,579 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Fluvanna County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 89% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Fluvanna County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Lake Monticello, Scottsville, Palmyra, Columbia.
Can Fluvanna 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.