1st Advantage MortgageIn Westmoreland County, Virginia, the typical household earns $63,398 a year and the typical rent is $1,018. 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 Westmoreland County
- Household income in Westmoreland County
- Jobs and commutes in Westmoreland County
- What it costs to live in Westmoreland County
- Westmoreland County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Westmoreland County
- Westmoreland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Westmoreland County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Westmoreland County
- Licensing and complaints for Westmoreland County
- Four steps for Westmoreland County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Westmoreland County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Westmoreland County's population at 18,826; only 81 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 229 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 82 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Westmoreland County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Colonial Beach is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 3,966 people (21% of the county total).
Household income in Westmoreland County
The median household income in Westmoreland County is $63,398; statewide it is $93,170, so Westmoreland County runs 32% below Virginia as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Westmoreland County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.8% | +5.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +11.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | -5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -12.2 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.0%, 4 points higher than the state's 9.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.463 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $63,398 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Westmoreland County
Professional and administrative services employs 16% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 15%. Compared with Virginia, the county leans toward retail trade (14% against 10%). Averaged over the five survey years, 7.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 43% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Westmoreland County | Difference from Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 15.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.9% | -7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.1% | +4.3 pts |
| Public administration | 12.7% | +3.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +2.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +3.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Westmoreland County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,018 in Westmoreland County versus $1,579 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $269,600, about 4.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Measure | Westmoreland County | Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,018/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $269,600 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Westmoreland County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Westmoreland County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Westmoreland County's, from 12 to 28 miles away. Income ranges from $56,520 in Essex County to $122,816 in Charles County; 5 of these neighbors top Westmoreland County's median. The list crosses into Maryland, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County | - | $63,398 | $1,018/mo | 80% |
| Richmond County, VA | 12 mi | $66,304 | $1,067/mo | 75% |
| Essex County, VA | 14 mi | $56,520 | $972/mo | 72% |
| St. Mary's County, MD | 17 mi | $119,446 | $1,747/mo | 73% |
| King George County, VA | 23 mi | $116,884 | $1,428/mo | 76% |
| Charles County, MD | 28 mi | $122,816 | $1,920/mo | 82% |
| King and Queen County, VA | 28 mi | $70,469 | $1,004/mo | 76% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Westmoreland County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 23% of Westmoreland County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Beach | town | 3,966 | $60,513 | $620 | 15 mi |
| Montross | town | 375 | $71,563 | $772 | 1 mi |
Westmoreland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Westmoreland County | Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.5% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.2% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Westmoreland County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.0% |
| 60+ min | 26.9% |
Reading the Westmoreland County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Westmoreland County borrowers.
- Keeping the car running. At 43% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Westmoreland County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Westmoreland County borrower sees (free reports).
Room for a loan payment in Westmoreland County
How much room does a median Westmoreland County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,283 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,018, which is 19% of it
- Under a 35% cap, $1,849 total minus rent leaves $831
- Under a 45% cap, $2,377 total minus rent leaves $1,359
Two-income households and single earners in Westmoreland County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Westmoreland County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Westmoreland County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Virginia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Westmoreland County?
$63,398 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 82nd of 133 in the state.
What do renters pay in Westmoreland County?
$1,018 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Does this page cover Colonial Beach?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Westmoreland County, such as Montross.
Can Westmoreland County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Virginia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Westmoreland County check a lender's license?
With the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.