1st Advantage MortgageThe median Northumberland County household earns $66,480, and 12% 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
- Northumberland County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Northumberland County
- Income in Northumberland County compared with Virginia
- Renting and owning in Northumberland County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Northumberland County
- Debt-to-income at Northumberland County's medians
- Northumberland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Northumberland County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Northumberland County at a glance
With an estimated 12,188 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Northumberland County ranks 107th of 133 in Virginia for population. Packed into 191 square miles, that is close to 64 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Northumberland County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (0 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Heathsville, with about 98 residents.
Work, industries and travel time in Northumberland County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Northumberland County residents work in education and health care and 12% in arts, lodging and food service. Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (12% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Northumberland County. About 69% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Northumberland County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.5% | +4.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -7.4 pts |
| Other services | 7.8% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.5% | -2.2 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.
Income in Northumberland County compared with Virginia
Half of Northumberland County households take in less than $66,480 a year and half take in more, 29% below the Virginia median of $93,170. That places it 70th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Household income | Northumberland County | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.8% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +8.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -6.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -9.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Northumberland County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. 11.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). For a borrower in Northumberland County, 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.
Renting and owning in Northumberland County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,038 in Northumberland County versus $1,579 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $346,800, about 5.2 times the median household income. 86% of Northumberland County households own their home and 14% rent.
| Cost | Northumberland County | Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,038/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $346,800 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 86% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.4% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 38% | 9% | 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).
Neighboring counties at a glance
Lancaster County is closest, 11 miles from center to center; the sixth, King and Queen County, is 30 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Northumberland County; St. Mary's County is highest at $119,446 and Westmoreland County lowest at $63,398. Some neighbors are in Maryland. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Northumberland County resident follows Virginia rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland County | - | $66,480 | $1,038/mo | 86% |
| Lancaster County, VA | 11 mi | $69,713 | $1,033/mo | 81% |
| Middlesex County, VA | 19 mi | $75,060 | $1,059/mo | 87% |
| Richmond County, VA | 20 mi | $66,304 | $1,067/mo | 75% |
| St. Mary's County, MD | 27 mi | $119,446 | $1,747/mo | 73% |
| Westmoreland County, VA | 29 mi | $63,398 | $1,018/mo | 80% |
| King and Queen County, VA | 30 mi | $70,469 | $1,004/mo | 76% |
Places inside Northumberland County
Heathsville is the only Census place mainly inside Northumberland County, with about 98 of the county's 12,188 residents. Heathsville has no separate guide, so this county page serves it.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathsville | CDP | 98 | $11,597 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Debt-to-income at Northumberland County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Northumberland County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,540 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,038, which is 19% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $1,994 total minus rent leaves $956
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,344 a month
If your rent is above $1,038, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Northumberland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
34% of Northumberland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.6%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| Indicator | Northumberland County | All of Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.5 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.6% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Northumberland County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 15.1% |
Reading the Northumberland County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Northumberland County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 22% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Northumberland County budgets.
- Older households. A 59.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
Before sharing details with a lender, a Northumberland County resident can confirm its license with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Northumberland County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Northumberland County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Northumberland County household make?
About $66,480 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Virginia median.
How does Northumberland County rent compare with Virginia?
$1,038 locally versus $1,579 for the state, 34% below.
Should Northumberland County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 86% of Northumberland 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 Northumberland County?
By population: Heathsville. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Is the fit check different in Northumberland County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.