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CITY

Pennington Gap

Virginia · 1,568 residents (2025 est.) · 1.668 sq mi
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The short version

Pennington Gap has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $21,633. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $92,900. At a median age of 34.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It falls in the bottom 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 5%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,798
+1%since 2000
from 1,781 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,078 / sq mi
+1%since 2000
from 1,068 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.3
−19%since 2000
from 42.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,568 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Pennington Gap
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$21,633
−34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $18,056 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$15,060
+10%since 2000
from $13,742 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
13.8%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
56.8%
+25.4 ptssince 2000
from 31.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.514
+3%since 2010
from 0.497 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing7.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing2.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade1.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance0.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$92,900
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$766
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $327 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
43.4%
−11.8 ptssince 2000
from 55.2% in 2000
56.6% rent
Vacancy rate
21.4%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
31.1%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 61.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.3
+44%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
26
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pennington Gap on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.8%(1,689)
Black3.4%(61)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(12)
Asian0.2%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.4%(185)
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.2%(1,711)
Black1.6%(28)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(7)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.9%(52)
Diversity Score11.7%(210)
Diversity Score
12
+12%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
74.0%
+15.6 ptssince 2000
from 58.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.3 min
+114%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
66.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 65.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
17.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.0%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
23.5%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 34.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
22.4%
+10.3 ptssince 2011
from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
32.9%
−16.4 ptssince 2011
from 49.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.6%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
41.7%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
58.3%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
28.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 27.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−80.6 ptssince 2013
from 86.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.5%
+44.2 ptssince 2017
from 37.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 100.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Pennington Gap, Virginia?

Pennington Gap, Virginia has about 1,798 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Pennington Gap, Virginia?

The typical household in Pennington Gap, Virginia earns about $21,633 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pennington Gap, Virginia expensive?

In Pennington Gap, Virginia, the median home is worth about $92,900, and the typical rent is about $766 a month.

How educated are people in Pennington Gap, Virginia?

About 14.4% of adults age 25 and over in Pennington Gap, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pennington Gap, Virginia?

About 56.8% of people in Pennington Gap, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pennington Gap, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Pennington Gap, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 124 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →