1st Advantage MortgageIn Shenandoah County, Virginia, the typical household earns $67,191 a year and the typical rent is $984. 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
- Shenandoah County, VA: the basics
- Income in Shenandoah County compared with Virginia
- Renting and owning in Shenandoah County
- Work, industries and travel time in Shenandoah County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Shenandoah County
- Debt-to-income at Shenandoah County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Shenandoah County borrowers
- Shenandoah County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Shenandoah County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Shenandoah County residents
- More guides for Shenandoah County
- Frequently asked questions
Shenandoah County, VA: the basics
With an estimated 44,925 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Shenandoah County ranks 39th of 133 in Virginia for population. It covers 508 square miles of land, or about 88 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Shenandoah County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 9 Census places inside Shenandoah County, Strasburg leads by population with about 7,214; 6 of the 9 are incorporated.
Income in Shenandoah County compared with Virginia
At $67,191, the typical Shenandoah County household income is 2% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 68th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Shenandoah County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.8% | +5.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.8% | +9.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -10.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Shenandoah County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.8% of Shenandoah County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Virginia. None of these numbers decides a Shenandoah County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Shenandoah County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $984 in Shenandoah County versus $1,579 statewide. By the Census definition, 36% of Shenandoah County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $294,900, or 4.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 73%.
| Shenandoah County | Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $984/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $294,900 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Shenandoah County
Education and health care employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward manufacturing (13% against 7%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 78% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Shenandoah County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.0% | -4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | +6.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +3.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -7.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 17 to 29 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Shenandoah County; Frederick County is highest at $97,606 and Hardy County lowest at $49,272. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah County | - | $67,191 | $984/mo | 73% |
| Page County, VA | 17 mi | $57,037 | $879/mo | 72% |
| Hardy County, WV | 18 mi | $49,272 | $816/mo | 77% |
| Warren County, VA | 20 mi | $84,682 | $1,199/mo | 76% |
| Rappahannock County, VA | 25 mi | $83,380 | $1,290/mo | 73% |
| Frederick County, VA | 29 mi | $97,606 | $1,507/mo | 79% |
| Rockingham County, VA | 29 mi | $80,693 | $1,160/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Shenandoah County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Shenandoah County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 22,280 people, so roughly 50% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $93,929 at the median in Maurertown, $51,410 in New Market. Rent is cheapest in New Market ($919) and steepest in Edinburg ($1,033). This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strasburg | town | 7,214 | $62,464 | $1,017 | 16 mi |
| Woodstock | town | 5,871 | $76,100 | $1,005 | 3 mi |
| New Market | town | 2,342 | $51,410 | $919 | 15 mi |
| Mount Jackson | town | 2,000 | $52,297 | $984 | 9 mi |
| Edinburg | town | 1,671 | $56,686 | $1,033 | 2 mi |
| Basye | CDP | 1,481 | $74,393 | $1,033 | 11 mi |
| Maurertown | CDP | 1,092 | $93,929 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Toms Brook | town | 439 | $54,167 | $845 | 10 mi |
| Mount Clifton | CDP | 170 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Debt-to-income at Shenandoah County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Shenandoah County's medians:
- $67,191 a year is $5,599 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $984, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,032 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Shenandoah County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Shenandoah County borrowers
A few patterns in the Shenandoah County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Shenandoah County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Shenandoah County borrower sees (free reports).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Shenandoah County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. 7.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Shenandoah County | Virginia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.6% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Shenandoah County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.9% |
A Shenandoah County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Shenandoah County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Virginia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Shenandoah County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Shenandoah County borrowers answers to the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Shenandoah County
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Shenandoah County?
$67,191 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 68th of 133 in the state.
Is Shenandoah County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $984 against $1,579 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Shenandoah County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Strasburg?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Shenandoah County, such as Woodstock, New Market, Mount Jackson.
Does living in Shenandoah County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Shenandoah County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.