1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Spotsylvania County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $112,738. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Spotsylvania County by the numbers
- What it costs to live in Spotsylvania County
- How much Spotsylvania County households make
- Employment and commuting in Spotsylvania County
- Regional comparison for Spotsylvania County
- The communities that make up Spotsylvania County
- Room for a loan payment in Spotsylvania County
- Spotsylvania County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Spotsylvania County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Spotsylvania County residents
- More guides for Spotsylvania County
- Frequently asked questions
Spotsylvania County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Spotsylvania County's population at 146,603; only 13 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. It covers 402 square miles of land, or about 365 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (0 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Spotsylvania Courthouse, with about 7,180 residents, or 5% of the county.
What it costs to live in Spotsylvania County
Renters in Spotsylvania County pay a median of $1,779 a month, 13% above the Virginia figure of $1,579. By the Census definition, 52% of Spotsylvania County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $404,900, or 3.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%.
| Home costs | Spotsylvania County | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,779/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $404,900 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.5% | 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). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
How much Spotsylvania County households make
At $112,738, the typical Spotsylvania County household income is 72% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 17th of 133.
| Household income | Spotsylvania County | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.1% | -5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.9% | -3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 37.9% | +8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.1% | +0.4 pts |
Some 12% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 56% have six-figure incomes. 7.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.396 here. For a borrower in Spotsylvania County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Spotsylvania County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 15%. Public administration stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 35% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Spotsylvania County | Gap to Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.9% | -1.9 pts |
| Public administration | 13.4% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +2.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Spotsylvania County
Distances run center to center, from Fredericksburg city at 12 miles out to Culpeper County at 27. Income ranges from $86,071 in Fredericksburg city to $137,807 in Stafford County; 1 of these neighbors top Spotsylvania County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotsylvania County | - | $112,738 | $1,779/mo | 80% |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 12 mi | $86,071 | $1,619/mo | 40% |
| Caroline County, VA | 20 mi | $87,407 | $1,293/mo | 82% |
| Orange County, VA | 20 mi | $94,008 | $1,205/mo | 79% |
| Stafford County, VA | 20 mi | $137,807 | $2,020/mo | 80% |
| Louisa County, VA | 22 mi | $86,689 | $1,220/mo | 82% |
| Culpeper County, VA | 27 mi | $100,049 | $1,423/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Spotsylvania County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Spotsylvania County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 10,319 residents, leaving about 93% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotsylvania Courthouse | CDP | 7,180 | $95,331 | $1,398 | 4 mi |
| Lake Wilderness | CDP | 3,139 | $120,700 | $1,859 | 9 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Spotsylvania County
How much room does a median Spotsylvania County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $9,395 a month: gross income for a household at the Spotsylvania County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,779 uses 19%
- $1,603: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $4,040 total minus rent leaves $2,261
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Spotsylvania County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 35% of adults over 25. 6.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Spotsylvania County | Virginia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.9% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Spotsylvania County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.4% |
| 60+ min | 24.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Spotsylvania County
What the Spotsylvania County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 35% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Higher earners. 56% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Spotsylvania County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Spotsylvania County borrowers:
- Price the Spotsylvania County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Spotsylvania County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Spotsylvania County residents
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Virginia: Virginia personal loans.
More guides for Spotsylvania County
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spotsylvania County a high-income county?
Its $112,738 median ranks 17th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Spotsylvania County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,779 a month; 52% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Spotsylvania County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Spotsylvania County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Spotsylvania Courthouse, Lake Wilderness.
Is the fit check different in Spotsylvania County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.