1st Advantage MortgageIn Tazewell County, Virginia, the typical household earns $47,313 a year and the typical rent is $795. 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
- Getting oriented in Tazewell County
- Tazewell County at the extremes
- Labor force snapshot: Tazewell County
- Homes and rents, Tazewell County
- Income in Tazewell County compared with Virginia
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Tazewell County
- Counties near Tazewell County
- Budget math at the Tazewell County median
- Before borrowing in Tazewell County
- People and households in Tazewell County
- Four steps for Tazewell County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Tazewell County
- Beyond Tazewell County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Tazewell County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Tazewell County's population at 39,624; only 45 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. It covers 519 square miles of land, or about 76 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Tazewell County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Richlands (5,171 people) heads the county's list of 16 Census places, 5 incorporated and 11 census-designated.
Tazewell County at the extremes
Where Tazewell County lands at the extremes of Virginia's county rankings:
- Few Virginia counties match Tazewell County on median home value: $118,300 here, $383,700 for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 133. With modest home values, equity borrowing is rarely large.
- On the share of mobile homes, Tazewell County sits near the top of Virginia at 21.7%, 10th highest of 133. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
- Tazewell County ranks 10th lowest of 133 Virginia counties for median household income: $47,313, against $93,170 statewide. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
Labor force snapshot: Tazewell County
The biggest employer of Tazewell County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward manufacturing (13% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Tazewell County. About 81% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Tazewell County workers | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -9.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 5.9% | -3.0 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.
Homes and rents, Tazewell County
$795 a month is the median gross rent in Tazewell County, 50% below the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. With a median value of $118,300, a typical Tazewell County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 74%, renters 26%.
| Housing | Tazewell County | Virginia statewide | Tazewell County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $795/mo | $1,579/mo | 50% lower |
| Median home value | $118,300 | $383,700 | 69% lower |
| Owners | 74% | 67% | +7.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | -5.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | +1.2 pts |
With 74% of Tazewell County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Income in Tazewell County compared with Virginia
Half of Tazewell County households take in less than $47,313 a year and half take in more, 49% below the Virginia median of $93,170. That places it 124th among Virginia's 133 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Tazewell County | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.9% | +18.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -10.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -14.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Tazewell County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.5% of Tazewell County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Virginia. A household earning below the $47,313 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Tazewell County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Tazewell County residents live in one of the 16. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $85,896, Gratton over Boissevain. Median rent ranges from $659 in Springville to $870 in Bluefield. From Richlands to the smallest crossroads, Tazewell County residents share this guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richlands | town | 5,171 | $37,154 | $804 | 14 mi |
| Bluefield | town | 4,979 | $54,041 | $870 | 18 mi |
| Tazewell | town | 4,390 | $34,618 | $708 | 3 mi |
| Claypool Hill | CDP | 1,610 | $45,446 | $790 | 11 mi |
| Raven | CDP | 1,345 | $52,619 | $695 | 17 mi |
| Cedar Bluff | town | 1,167 | $37,170 | $860 | 11 mi |
| Gratton | CDP | 841 | $113,412 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Springville | CDP | 841 | $70,117 | $659 | 10 mi |
| Boissevain | CDP | 830 | $27,516 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Pocahontas | town | 234 | $42,344 | $917 | 17 mi |
| Pounding Mill | CDP | 222 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Abbs Valley | CDP | 124 | $52,132 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Falls Mills | CDP | 96 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Jewell Ridge | CDP | 45 | $25,938 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Tazewell County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 32 miles). Income ranges from $31,559 in McDowell County to $61,216 in Bland County; 4 of these neighbors top Tazewell County's median. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tazewell County | - | $47,313 | $795/mo | 74% |
| McDowell County, WV | 19 mi | $31,559 | $643/mo | 77% |
| Smyth County, VA | 20 mi | $49,883 | $731/mo | 71% |
| Bland County, VA | 24 mi | $61,216 | $644/mo | 86% |
| Buchanan County, VA | 28 mi | $42,886 | $743/mo | 83% |
| Wythe County, VA | 31 mi | $57,745 | $764/mo | 77% |
| Mercer County, WV | 32 mi | $53,210 | $810/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Tazewell County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Tazewell County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,943 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $795 uses 20%
- Under a 36% cap, $1,419 total minus rent leaves $624
- At 43%, room after rent is $900 a month
Homeowners in Tazewell County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Before borrowing in Tazewell County
A few patterns in the Tazewell County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 22% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 45.0 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 19% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
People and households in Tazewell County
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. 4.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Tazewell County | +/- Virginia | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | -25.6 pts | -5.6 pts |
| Work from home | 7.0% | -11.3 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 18.5% | +8.6 pts | +5.3 pts |
| Median age | 45.0 | +6.0 yrs | +3.5 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | +4.2 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | -2.8 pts | -3.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | +0.5 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | -0.4 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 9.9% |
Four steps for Tazewell County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Virginia borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Tazewell County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Tazewell County resident can confirm its license with the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Virginia: Virginia personal loans.
Beyond Tazewell County
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tazewell County a high-income county?
Its $47,313 median ranks 124th of 133 Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Tazewell County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $795 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live near Richlands. Which guide is mine?
This one. Richlands and the rest of Tazewell County have no separate city guide.
Is the fit check different in Tazewell County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Tazewell County residents?
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.