1st Advantage MortgageIn Southampton County, Virginia, the typical household earns $70,795 a year and the typical rent is $930. 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 Southampton County
- How Southampton County residents earn a living
- Household income in Southampton County
- Renting and owning in Southampton County
- How Southampton County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Southampton County
- A Southampton County household budget, worked through
- Southampton County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Southampton County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Southampton County
- Checklist for Southampton County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Southampton County
Roughly 17,964 residents live in Southampton County, Virginia, 85th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 599 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 30 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (6 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Courtland, with about 1,579 residents, or 9% of the county.
How Southampton County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Southampton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (11%). Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward education and health care (28% against 22%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 28% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Southampton County workers | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.6% | +5.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | -6.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | +3.6 pts |
| Public administration | 10.6% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Southampton County
Half of Southampton County households take in less than $70,795 a year and half take in more, 24% below the Virginia median of $93,170. That places it 60th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Southampton County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.2% | +5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.3% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -13.0 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.7% of Southampton County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Virginia. 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 Southampton County
Renters in Southampton County pay a median of $930 a month, 41% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $216,200, a typical Southampton County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 76% of Southampton County households own their home and 24% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1981.
| Home costs | Southampton County | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $930/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,200 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.5% | 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).
How Southampton County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 9 to 26 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Isle of Wight County leads the group on income ($95,241), Hertford County trails ($45,537), and Southampton County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in North Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Southampton County resident follows Virginia rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton County | - | $70,795 | $930/mo | 76% |
| Franklin city, VA | 9 mi | $63,245 | $988/mo | 54% |
| Sussex County, VA | 17 mi | $63,530 | $907/mo | 70% |
| Emporia city, VA | 24 mi | $51,899 | $1,037/mo | 38% |
| Isle of Wight County, VA | 25 mi | $95,241 | $1,359/mo | 80% |
| Greensville County, VA | 25 mi | $54,668 | $969/mo | 66% |
| Hertford County, NC | 26 mi | $45,537 | $844/mo | 67% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Southampton County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 23% of Southampton County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $86,304 at the median in Sedley, $60,673 in Courtland. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtland | town | 1,579 | $60,673 | $1,068 | 2 mi |
| Boykins | town | 631 | $61,042 | $1,086 | 11 mi |
| Sedley | CDP | 568 | $86,304 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Southampton Meadows | CDP | 421 | $34,665 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Ivor | town | 301 | $61,250 | $1,063 | 17 mi |
| Newsoms | town | 289 | $57,969 | $1,011 | 7 mi |
| Capron | town | 148 | $73,333 | $1,929 | 5 mi |
| Branchville | town | 146 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Southampton County household budget, worked through
Here is the Southampton County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,900 gross per month ($70,795 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $930, takes 16% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,135 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $2,655 total minus rent leaves $1,725
Two-income households and single earners in Southampton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Southampton County households compared
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Southampton County | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 17.7% |
What the numbers mean for Southampton County borrowers
A few patterns in the Southampton County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 28% of Southampton County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Southampton County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 47.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Southampton County
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Checklist for Southampton County applicants
Steps that save money for Southampton County residents:
- Price the Southampton County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Southampton County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Southampton County a high-income county?
Its $70,795 median ranks 60th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Southampton County rent compare with Virginia?
$930 locally versus $1,579 for the state, 41% below.
Which towns does the Southampton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Courtland, Boykins, Sedley, Southampton Meadows, Ivor.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Southampton County or elsewhere in Virginia, the same rules apply.
Is there a Southampton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Virginia it is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions.