1st Advantage MortgageThe median Stafford County household earns $137,807, and 5% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Stafford County
- Paychecks and income spread in Stafford County
- Employment and commuting in Stafford County
- Housing costs in Stafford County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Stafford County towns compared
- A Stafford County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Stafford County
- Stafford County households compared
- Steps before you apply in Stafford County
- Licensing and complaints for Stafford County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Stafford County
With an estimated 163,466 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Stafford County ranks 12th of 133 in Virginia for population. Packed into 268 square miles, that is close to 609 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Stafford County, Aquia Harbour leads by population with about 7,481; 0 of the 7 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Stafford County
At $137,807, the typical Stafford County household income is 110% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Stafford County | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 7.2% | -10.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 26.7% | -8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 37.4% | +8.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 28.7% | +11.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 66% of Stafford County households make $100,000 or more, and 7% make less than $35,000. 4.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.373 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Stafford County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Stafford County residents work in education and health care and 19% in public administration. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 19% locally and 9% for Virginia. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 66% drive to work alone and 35% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 2.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Stafford County share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Public administration | 19.2% | +10.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.2% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +0.9 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.
Housing costs in Stafford County
A typical Stafford County rental runs $2,020 a month including utilities, which is 28% above Virginia. By the Census definition, 45% of Stafford County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $485,100, about 3.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. The median year built is 1997.
| Housing | Stafford County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,020/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $485,100 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
Because most Stafford County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Fredericksburg city is closest, 9 miles from center to center; the sixth, Manassas Park city, is 24 miles off. Income ranges from $86,071 in Fredericksburg city to $131,402 in Prince William County; none of these neighbors top Stafford County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford County | - | $137,807 | $2,020/mo | 80% |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 9 mi | $86,071 | $1,619/mo | 40% |
| King George County, VA | 19 mi | $116,884 | $1,428/mo | 76% |
| Prince William County, VA | 19 mi | $131,402 | $2,067/mo | 74% |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 20 mi | $112,738 | $1,779/mo | 80% |
| Manassas city, VA | 22 mi | $113,590 | $1,850/mo | 71% |
| Manassas Park city, VA | 24 mi | $103,250 | $2,146/mo | 66% |
Stafford County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Stafford County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 30,067 people, so roughly 82% of residents live outside any named place. Aquia Harbour has the highest median household income on the list ($152,708) and Quantico Base the lowest ($72,821), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Stafford County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquia Harbour | CDP | 7,481 | $152,708 | $2,549 | 5 mi |
| Quantico Base | CDP | 5,840 | $72,821 | $2,529 | 10 mi |
| Stafford Courthouse | CDP | 5,839 | $127,849 | $2,130 | 2 mi |
| Falmouth | CDP | 5,216 | $111,977 | $1,873 | 6 mi |
| Southern Gateway | CDP | 2,771 | $95,227 | $2,073 | 6 mi |
| Camp Barrett | CDP | 1,681 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Boswell's Corner | CDP | 1,239 | n/a | $1,475 | 7 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Stafford County household budget, worked through
Stafford County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $137,807 a year is $11,484 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $2,020, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $2,574 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Stafford County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Stafford County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Stafford County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 35% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Stafford County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 66% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Tight rental budgets. With 45% of Stafford County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Stafford County households compared
44% of Stafford County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Stafford County | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 43.8% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Stafford County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.9% |
| 60+ min | 22.8% |
Steps before you apply in Stafford County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Stafford County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Stafford County
Consumer lenders serving Stafford County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Virginia that is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Virginia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Stafford County?
$137,807 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 5th of 133 in the state.
What do renters pay in Stafford County?
$2,020 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Which towns does the Stafford County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Aquia Harbour, Quantico Base, Stafford Courthouse, Falmouth, Southern Gateway.
Does living in Stafford 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 Stafford County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Stafford County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Virginia it is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions.