1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pittsylvania County household earns $54,085, and 15% 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
- Pittsylvania County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Pittsylvania County
- Paychecks and income spread in Pittsylvania County
- Employment and commuting in Pittsylvania County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Pittsylvania County
- Counties near Pittsylvania County
- What a median Pittsylvania County budget can carry
- More Pittsylvania County figures
- Before borrowing in Pittsylvania County
- Steps before you apply in Pittsylvania County
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pittsylvania County by the numbers
With an estimated 59,856 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Pittsylvania County ranks 31st of 133 in Virginia for population. Land area is 969 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 62 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pittsylvania County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Mount Hermon is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 4,155 people (7% of the county total).
Housing costs in Pittsylvania County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $861 in Pittsylvania County versus $1,579 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $161,400, about 3.0 times the median household income. 79% of Pittsylvania County households own their home and 21% rent. The median year built is 1981.
| Housing | Pittsylvania County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $861/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $161,400 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Pittsylvania 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Pittsylvania County
The median household income in Pittsylvania County is $54,085; statewide it is $93,170, so Pittsylvania County runs 42% below Virginia as a whole.
| Household income | Pittsylvania County | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +14.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +9.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.9% | -10.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -13.6 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.6%, 5 points higher than the state's 9.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.439 here. A household earning below the $54,085 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Pittsylvania County
The biggest employer of Pittsylvania County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 18% locally and 7% for Virginia. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Top industries | Pittsylvania County share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | +3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.6% | +10.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Other services | 6.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.5% | -1.5 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Pittsylvania County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Pittsylvania County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 10,465 people, so roughly 83% of residents live outside any named place. Mount Hermon has the highest median household income on the list ($81,435) and Gretna the lowest ($33,698), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $594 in Blairs to $1,067 in Mount Hermon. No Pittsylvania County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Hermon | CDP | 4,155 | $81,435 | $1,067 | 11 mi |
| Gretna | town | 1,452 | $33,698 | $683 | 9 mi |
| Chatham | town | 1,448 | $58,661 | $1,004 | 1 mi |
| Hurt | town | 1,361 | $59,000 | $786 | 20 mi |
| Blairs | CDP | 1,062 | $49,818 | $594 | 9 mi |
| Motley | CDP | 987 | $55,529 | $785 | 17 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Pittsylvania County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Pittsylvania County's, from 16 to 32 miles away. Income ranges from $44,423 in Danville city to $68,849 in Franklin County; 3 of these neighbors top Pittsylvania County's median. Some neighbors are in North Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pittsylvania County resident follows Virginia rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsylvania County | - | $54,085 | $861/mo | 79% |
| Danville city, VA | 16 mi | $44,423 | $836/mo | 48% |
| Halifax County, VA | 26 mi | $52,013 | $790/mo | 75% |
| Martinsville city, VA | 27 mi | $46,727 | $808/mo | 55% |
| Franklin County, VA | 29 mi | $68,849 | $829/mo | 78% |
| Caswell County, NC | 30 mi | $59,755 | $727/mo | 75% |
| Campbell County, VA | 32 mi | $66,165 | $891/mo | 75% |
What a median Pittsylvania County budget can carry
How much room does a median Pittsylvania County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,507 before taxes
- Less median rent of $861, which is 19% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $762 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Pittsylvania County figures
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 5.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Pittsylvania County | Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.1% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.1% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Pittsylvania County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Before borrowing in Pittsylvania County
Based on the Pittsylvania County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 18% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Steps before you apply in Pittsylvania County
Quick steps for Pittsylvania County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Pittsylvania County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. 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 does a typical Pittsylvania County household make?
About $54,085 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 42% below the Virginia median.
How does Pittsylvania County rent compare with Virginia?
$861 locally versus $1,579 for the state, 45% below.
I live in a small Pittsylvania County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Mount Hermon, Gretna, Chatham, Hurt, Blairs and 1 more.
Are Pittsylvania County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Pittsylvania County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Virginia it is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions.