1st Advantage MortgageThe median Patrick County household earns $53,038, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Virginia before sharing details.
On this page
- Patrick County at a glance
- How Patrick County residents earn a living
- Income in Patrick County compared with Virginia
- Patrick County housing compared with Virginia
- Places inside Patrick County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Patrick County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Patrick County borrowers
- Who lives in Patrick County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Patrick County
- Steps before you apply in Patrick County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Patrick County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Patrick County's population at 17,512; only 85 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 483 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 36 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Patrick County, Patrick Springs leads by population with about 2,223; 1 of the 3 are incorporated.
How Patrick County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Patrick County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward manufacturing (17% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 27% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Patrick County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.3% | +10.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -6.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Other services | 5.5% | +0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Income in Patrick County compared with Virginia
At $53,038, the typical Patrick County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 113 Virginia counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Patrick County | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +11.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +11.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.4% | -9.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -13.0 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.7%, 2 points higher than 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 Patrick County median.
Patrick County housing compared with Virginia
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $716 in Patrick County versus $1,579 statewide. By the Census definition, 43% of Patrick County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $153,400, a typical Patrick County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Patrick County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Cost | Patrick County | Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $716/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,400 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 26.0% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Patrick 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.
Places inside Patrick County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 25% of Patrick County residents live in one of the 3. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Springs | CDP | 2,223 | $63,304 | $765 | 5 mi |
| Stuart | town | 1,952 | $45,625 | $589 | 2 mi |
| Meadows of Dan | CDP | 134 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Patrick County's, from 17 to 28 miles away. Stokes County leads the group on income ($62,969), Martinsville city trails ($46,727), and Patrick County out-earns 2 of the six. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick County | - | $53,038 | $716/mo | 77% |
| Henry County, VA | 17 mi | $50,760 | $728/mo | 75% |
| Floyd County, VA | 19 mi | $62,191 | $878/mo | 84% |
| Stokes County, NC | 19 mi | $62,969 | $775/mo | 79% |
| Martinsville city, VA | 23 mi | $46,727 | $808/mo | 55% |
| Carroll County, VA | 25 mi | $54,484 | $738/mo | 77% |
| Surry County, NC | 28 mi | $55,656 | $761/mo | 73% |
A Patrick County household budget, worked through
Patrick County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,420 gross per month ($53,038 / 12)
- Median rent: $716, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $875 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Patrick County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Patrick County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Patrick County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 27% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Patrick County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 26% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Patrick County's median age is 51.8. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Who lives in Patrick County, in numbers
15% of Patrick County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.4%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| People and households | Patrick County | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.1% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.5% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.7% |
| 60+ min | 12.8% |
Lender oversight for Patrick County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Patrick County resident can confirm its license with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Virginia: Virginia personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Patrick County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Patrick County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Patrick County earn?
The median is $53,038; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Patrick County?
$716 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Patrick Springs?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Patrick County, such as Stuart, Meadows of Dan.
Will a Patrick County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Virginia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Patrick County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Virginia it is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions.