1st Advantage MortgageRadford city households have a median income of $57,348 and median rent of $1,033 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Radford city by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Radford city
- What Radford city households earn
- Housing costs in Radford city
- Places inside Radford city
- Counties near Radford city
- What a median Radford city budget can carry
- Radford city households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Radford city
- Checklist for Radford city applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Virginia
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Radford city by the numbers
Roughly 16,726 residents live in Radford city, Virginia, 90th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 10 square miles, that is close to 1,729 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Radford, with about 16,726 residents, or 100% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Radford city
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 16%. Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Radford city averages 8.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Radford city | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | +5.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.1% | +8.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.9% | +5.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +4.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -10.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 4.3% | -2.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Radford city should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Radford city households earn
Half of Radford city households take in less than $57,348 a year and half take in more, 38% below the Virginia median of $93,170. In the state ranking that is 99th of 133.
| Households earning | Radford city | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.0% | +18.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.0% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.0% | -11.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -11.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Radford city households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. 28.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.505 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $57,348 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Radford city
Renters in Radford city pay a median of $1,033 a month, 35% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. Home values center on $220,700, or 3.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 42%. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Cost | Radford city | Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,033/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $220,700 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 42% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 11% | 25% | n/a |
With renters making up 58% of households, many Radford city borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Places inside Radford city
Radford is the only Census place mainly inside Radford city, with about 16,726 of the county's 16,726 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford | city | 16,726 | $57,348 | $1,033 | 0 mi |
Counties near Radford city
Six nearby counties, 9 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Roanoke County leads the group on income ($83,709), Carroll County trails ($54,484), and Radford city out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radford city | - | $57,348 | $1,033/mo | 42% |
| Pulaski County, VA | 9 mi | $62,028 | $813/mo | 73% |
| Montgomery County, VA | 10 mi | $72,715 | $1,240/mo | 55% |
| Giles County, VA | 16 mi | $65,691 | $789/mo | 79% |
| Floyd County, VA | 17 mi | $62,191 | $878/mo | 84% |
| Roanoke County, VA | 25 mi | $83,709 | $1,224/mo | 76% |
| Carroll County, VA | 28 mi | $54,484 | $738/mo | 77% |
What a median Radford city budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Radford city household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,779 a month: gross income for a household at the Radford city median
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,033)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,720 total minus rent leaves $687
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,022 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Radford city households compared
Degree holders: 38% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 4.9%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| Residents | Radford city | Virginia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.9% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 28.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.1% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 0.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Radford city
Where the Radford city numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Free help first. 29% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 55% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Checklist for Radford city applicants
Quick steps for Radford city:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Radford city.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Virginia.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Virginia
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Radford city a high-income county?
Its $57,348 median ranks 99th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Radford city?
$1,033 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
I live in a small Radford city town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Radford.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Radford city or elsewhere in Virginia, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Radford city 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.