1st Advantage MortgageOrange County households have a median income of $94,008 and median rent of $1,205 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Orange County
- Renting and owning in Orange County
- Income in Orange County compared with Virginia
- Employment and commuting in Orange County
- How Orange County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Orange County
- Room for a loan payment in Orange County
- What the numbers mean for Orange County borrowers
- People and households in Orange County
- Who licenses lenders for Orange County residents
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Orange County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Orange County's population at 37,822; only 47 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 341 square miles, that is close to 111 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Orange County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (2 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Lake of the Woods, with about 7,984 residents, or 21% of the county.
Renting and owning in Orange County
A typical Orange County rental runs $1,205 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Virginia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. With a median value of $364,200, a typical Orange County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 79% of Orange County households own their home and 21% rent. Median construction year: 1993.
| Home costs | Orange County | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,205/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $364,200 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.7% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Orange 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.
Income in Orange County compared with Virginia
At $94,008, the typical Orange County household income is 43% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 29th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Orange County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.7% | -5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +4.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.6% | +5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.9% | -4.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Orange County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.8%, the same as the state's 9.9%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Orange County median.
Employment and commuting in Orange County
The biggest employer of Orange County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by construction (12%). Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward construction (12% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Orange County. About 74% drive to work alone and 30% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (6.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Orange County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 12.2% | +5.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -6.2 pts |
| Public administration | 8.1% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -1.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Orange County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Orange County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Culpeper County at 17 miles out to Fredericksburg city at 29. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Orange County; Spotsylvania County is highest at $112,738 and Madison County lowest at $84,323.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County | - | $94,008 | $1,205/mo | 79% |
| Culpeper County, VA | 17 mi | $100,049 | $1,423/mo | 75% |
| Madison County, VA | 18 mi | $84,323 | $1,166/mo | 78% |
| Louisa County, VA | 19 mi | $86,689 | $1,220/mo | 82% |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 20 mi | $112,738 | $1,779/mo | 80% |
| Greene County, VA | 25 mi | $89,808 | $1,309/mo | 83% |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 29 mi | $86,071 | $1,619/mo | 40% |
The communities that make up Orange County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Orange County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 15,203 people, so roughly 60% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $109,153 at the median in Lake of the Woods, $53,766 in Barboursville. Median rent ranges from $941 in Gordonsville to $1,765 in Lake of the Woods. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake of the Woods | CDP | 7,984 | $109,153 | $1,765 | 15 mi |
| Orange | town | 5,066 | $76,370 | $1,103 | 6 mi |
| Gordonsville | town | 1,459 | $61,556 | $941 | 12 mi |
| Barboursville | CDP | 694 | $53,766 | n/a | 16 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Orange County
Orange County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $94,008 a year is $7,834 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,205 uses 15%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,615 a month
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,164 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,205, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Orange County borrowers
What the Orange County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 30% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 48% of Orange County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Orange County borrower sees (free reports).
People and households in Orange County
30% of Orange County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| Measure | Orange County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.6% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Orange County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.0% |
| 60+ min | 18.1% |
Who licenses lenders for Orange County residents
Consumer lenders serving Orange 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. More on Virginia: Virginia personal loans.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Orange County borrowers:
- Price the Orange County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Orange County a high-income county?
Its $94,008 median ranks 29th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Orange County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,205 against $1,579 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Orange County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Lake of the Woods, Orange, Gordonsville, Barboursville.
Does living in Orange 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 Orange County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Orange County 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.