1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Gloucester County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $84,306. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Gloucester County by the numbers
- Income in Gloucester County compared with Virginia
- The Gloucester County job picture
- What it costs to live in Gloucester County
- Gloucester County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Gloucester County
- Gloucester County households compared
- Before borrowing in Gloucester County
- Debt-to-income at Gloucester County's medians
- Who licenses lenders for Gloucester County residents
- Checklist for Gloucester County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Gloucester County by the numbers
Roughly 39,526 residents live in Gloucester County, Virginia, 47th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 218 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 181 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (0 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Gloucester Point, with about 11,109 residents, or 28% of the county.
Income in Gloucester County compared with Virginia
Gloucester County households have a median income of $84,306 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 42nd of 133 in Virginia.
| Band | Gloucester County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.4% | -5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.0% | +12.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.5% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | -7.6 pts |
Some 12% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 40% have six-figure incomes. 5.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Gloucester County job picture
The biggest employer of Gloucester County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Manufacturing stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.0% in Gloucester County. Long commutes are common here: 33% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Gloucester County share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -8.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.2% | +1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Gloucester County
Renters in Gloucester County pay a median of $1,096 a month, 31% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. By the Census definition, 38% of Gloucester County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $331,000, a typical Gloucester County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%. Half the housing stock was built before 1987.
| Home costs | Gloucester County | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,096/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $331,000 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Gloucester County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Gloucester County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (14 to 22 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Gloucester County; James City County is highest at $109,985 and Lancaster County lowest at $69,713.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester County | - | $84,306 | $1,096/mo | 80% |
| Williamsburg city, VA | 14 mi | $75,604 | $1,407/mo | 53% |
| Middlesex County, VA | 14 mi | $75,060 | $1,059/mo | 87% |
| Mathews County, VA | 14 mi | $75,880 | $1,032/mo | 84% |
| York County, VA | 14 mi | $109,956 | $1,827/mo | 72% |
| James City County, VA | 15 mi | $109,985 | $1,552/mo | 77% |
| Lancaster County, VA | 22 mi | $69,713 | $1,033/mo | 81% |
Places inside Gloucester County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Gloucester County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 14,445 people, so roughly 63% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester Point | CDP | 11,109 | $74,001 | $1,062 | 9 mi |
| Gloucester Courthouse | CDP | 3,336 | $75,341 | $954 | 0 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Gloucester County households compared
25% of Gloucester County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Gloucester County | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.1% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.6% |
| 60+ min | 15.2% |
Before borrowing in Gloucester County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Gloucester County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 33% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Gloucester County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Gloucester County's medians
Gloucester County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,026 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,096, which is 16% of it
- $1,925: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Gloucester County's.
Who licenses lenders for Gloucester County residents
Consumer lenders serving Gloucester County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Virginia that is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Checklist for Gloucester County applicants
Quick steps for Gloucester County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Gloucester County household make?
About $84,306 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Virginia median.
Is Gloucester County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,096 against $1,579 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Gloucester County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Gloucester County?
By population: Gloucester Point, Gloucester Courthouse. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Does living in Gloucester County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Gloucester County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.