1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Richmond County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $66,304. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Richmond County
- What it costs to live in Richmond County
- What Richmond County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Richmond County
- Richmond County and the counties next door
- Places inside Richmond County
- Who lives in Richmond County, in numbers
- Reading the Richmond County data as a borrower
- A Richmond County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Richmond County
- Steps before you apply in Richmond County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Richmond County
Richmond County is home to about 9,095 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 117th most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. Spread over 191 square miles, that works out to roughly 47.5 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Richmond 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 (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Warsaw, with about 2,292 residents, or 25% of the county. With so few households sampled, Richmond County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What it costs to live in Richmond County
Renters in Richmond County pay a median of $1,067 a month, 32% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. By the Census definition, 29% of Richmond County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $231,500, or 3.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Measure | Richmond County | Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,067/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,500 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.5% | 4.3% | 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).
What Richmond County households earn
The median household income in Richmond County is $66,304; statewide it is $93,170, so Richmond County runs 29% below Virginia as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Richmond County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.5% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +8.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.7% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -14.8 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 7.7%, 2 points lower than the state's 9.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.381 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $66,304 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Richmond County
Education and health care employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 13%. Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward construction (13% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 31% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. 6.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Richmond County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.3% | -4.0 pts |
| Construction | 13.2% | +6.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | +5.5 pts |
| Public administration | 11.2% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | -6.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -0.7 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.
Richmond County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Essex County at 11 miles out to Lancaster County at 24. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Richmond County; St. Mary's County is highest at $119,446 and Essex County lowest at $56,520. Some neighbors are in Maryland. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Richmond County resident follows Virginia rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond County | - | $66,304 | $1,067/mo | 75% |
| Essex County, VA | 11 mi | $56,520 | $972/mo | 72% |
| Westmoreland County, VA | 12 mi | $63,398 | $1,018/mo | 80% |
| King and Queen County, VA | 18 mi | $70,469 | $1,004/mo | 76% |
| Northumberland County, VA | 20 mi | $66,480 | $1,038/mo | 86% |
| St. Mary's County, MD | 22 mi | $119,446 | $1,747/mo | 73% |
| Lancaster County, VA | 24 mi | $69,713 | $1,033/mo | 81% |
Places inside Richmond County
Just one Census place, Warsaw, lies mainly within Richmond County; it holds about 2,292 people. Live in one of these Richmond County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw | town | 2,292 | $84,828 | $1,083 | 2 mi |
Who lives in Richmond County, in numbers
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Richmond County | Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.6% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.0% |
| 60+ min | 22.4% |
Reading the Richmond County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Richmond County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 31% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Richmond County budgets.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Richmond County household budget, worked through
Here is the Richmond County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Richmond County: $5,525
- Rent at the median, $1,067, takes 19% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,376 total minus rent leaves $1,309
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Richmond County's.
Licensing and complaints for Richmond County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Richmond County borrowers answers to the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Steps before you apply in Richmond County
Steps that save money for Richmond County residents:
- Price the Richmond County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Richmond County household make?
About $66,304 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Virginia median.
How much is rent in Richmond County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,067 a month; 29% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Warsaw?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Richmond County.
Will a Richmond County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Virginia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Richmond 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.