1st Advantage MortgageRockbridge County households have a median income of $65,469 and median rent of $925 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Rockbridge County
- Work, industries and travel time in Rockbridge County
- Household income in Rockbridge County
- Renting and owning in Rockbridge County
- Rockbridge County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Rockbridge County
- Room for a loan payment in Rockbridge County
- Before borrowing in Rockbridge County
- More Rockbridge County figures
- Checklist for Rockbridge County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Rockbridge County residents
- More guides for Rockbridge County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Rockbridge County
Roughly 22,531 residents live in Rockbridge County, Virginia, 76th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. It covers 597 square miles of land, or about 38 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Rockbridge County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 4 Census places inside Rockbridge County, East Lexington leads by population with about 1,652; 2 of the 4 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Rockbridge County
The biggest employer of Rockbridge County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). Education and health care stands out: 29% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Rockbridge County share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.8% | +6.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.9% | -6.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -0.5 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.
Household income in Rockbridge County
At $65,469, the typical Rockbridge County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 77th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Rockbridge County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.3% | +8.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +7.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -10.3 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 7.5%, 2 points lower than the state's 9.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Rockbridge County
Renters in Rockbridge County pay a median of $925 a month, 41% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. Home values center on $248,800, or 3.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 79%. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $925/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $248,800 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.9% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 9% | 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).
Rockbridge County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Lexington city at 2 miles out to Covington city at 29. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Rockbridge County; Lexington city is highest at $84,517 and Covington city lowest at $41,944.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockbridge County | - | $65,469 | $925/mo | 79% |
| Lexington city, VA | 2 mi | $84,517 | $1,081/mo | 54% |
| Buena Vista city, VA | 8 mi | $57,833 | $1,112/mo | 56% |
| Amherst County, VA | 20 mi | $68,724 | $871/mo | 81% |
| Bath County, VA | 23 mi | $56,184 | $736/mo | 71% |
| Botetourt County, VA | 26 mi | $81,213 | $1,035/mo | 86% |
| Covington city, VA | 29 mi | $41,944 | $794/mo | 70% |
The communities that make up Rockbridge County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Rockbridge County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 3,819 residents, leaving about 83% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,827 in Glasgow to $113,646 in Fairfield. Live in one of these Rockbridge County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lexington | CDP | 1,652 | $64,241 | $954 | 2 mi |
| Glasgow | town | 1,330 | $51,827 | $764 | 13 mi |
| Fairfield | CDP | 566 | $113,646 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Goshen | town | 271 | $45,000 | $750 | 13 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Rockbridge County
How much room does a median Rockbridge County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Rockbridge County: $5,456
- Housing at the median rent of $925 uses 17%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,039 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $925, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Rockbridge County
A few patterns in the Rockbridge County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Rockbridge County's median age is 49.8. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Rockbridge County borrower sees (free reports).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
More Rockbridge County figures
33% of Rockbridge County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Rockbridge County | All of Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.8% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Rockbridge County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Checklist for Rockbridge County applicants
Steps that save money for Rockbridge County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Rockbridge County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Rockbridge County resident can confirm its license with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
More guides for Rockbridge County
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Rockbridge County household make?
About $65,469 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 30% below the Virginia median.
How does Rockbridge County rent compare with Virginia?
$925 locally versus $1,579 for the state, 41% below.
Should Rockbridge County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Rockbridge County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Rockbridge County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: East Lexington, Glasgow, Fairfield, Goshen.
Are Rockbridge 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.