1st Advantage MortgageStaunton city households have a median income of $65,581 and median rent of $1,024 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
- Staunton city, VA: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Staunton city
- What Staunton city households earn
- Employment and commuting in Staunton city
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Staunton city
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Staunton city's medians
- Staunton city households compared
- What the numbers mean for Staunton city borrowers
- Checklist for Staunton city applicants
- Virginia rules that apply in Staunton city
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Staunton city, VA: the basics
Roughly 25,948 residents live in Staunton city, Virginia, 68th by population among the state's 133 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 20 square miles, that is close to 1,303 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 1 Census place inside Staunton city, Staunton leads by population with about 25,948.
Rent, home values and ownership in Staunton city
Renters in Staunton city pay a median of $1,024 a month, 35% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $259,200, or 4.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 61%.
| Home costs | Staunton city | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,024/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $259,200 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% | 4.3% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 9% | n/a |
What Staunton city households earn
The median household income in Staunton city is $65,581; statewide it is $93,170, so Staunton city runs 30% below Virginia as a whole. In the state ranking that is 76th of 133.
| Band | Staunton city | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.6% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +9.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -13.2 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. 12.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.434 here. None of these numbers decides a Staunton city application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Staunton city
The biggest employer of Staunton city residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Education and health care stands out: 31% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Staunton city. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 8.1% of the total (6.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Staunton city share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.9% | +8.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -7.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.0% | +0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Staunton city
Just one Census place, Staunton, lies mainly within Staunton city; it holds about 25,948 people. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton | city | 25,948 | $65,581 | $1,024 | 0 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Augusta County is closest, 4 miles from center to center; the sixth, Albemarle County, is 29 miles off. Income ranges from $59,994 in Waynesboro city to $104,392 in Albemarle County; 4 of these neighbors top Staunton city's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton city | - | $65,581 | $1,024/mo | 61% |
| Augusta County, VA | 4 mi | $82,049 | $1,136/mo | 80% |
| Waynesboro city, VA | 11 mi | $59,994 | $1,020/mo | 60% |
| Harrisonburg city, VA | 22 mi | $62,254 | $1,184/mo | 39% |
| Rockingham County, VA | 26 mi | $80,693 | $1,160/mo | 75% |
| Nelson County, VA | 27 mi | $72,589 | $946/mo | 80% |
| Albemarle County, VA | 29 mi | $104,392 | $1,692/mo | 66% |
Debt-to-income at Staunton city's medians
Staunton city at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,465 gross per month ($65,581 / 12)
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,024)
- $943: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Staunton city households compared
38% of Staunton city adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.4%, against 6.9% for Virginia.
| Measure | Staunton city | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.7% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Staunton city workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
What the numbers mean for Staunton city borrowers
Where the Staunton city numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Checklist for Staunton city applicants
A short checklist for Staunton city borrowers:
- Price the Staunton city expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Virginia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Virginia rules that apply in Staunton city
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Staunton city household make?
About $65,581 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 30% below the Virginia median.
Is Staunton city expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,024 against $1,579 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Staunton city guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Staunton.
Will a Staunton city address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Virginia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Staunton city office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Virginia it is the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions.