CensusEasy
CITY

Rural Retreat

Virginia · 1,521 residents (2025 est.) · 2.276 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Rural Retreat has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $61,979. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $185,800. The poverty rate of 22.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,644
+22%since 2000
from 1,350 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
722 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 593 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.0
+7%since 2000
from 38.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,521 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8991K1K2K2K1990201020202024Rural Retreat
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,979
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,141 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,173
+89%since 2000
from $15,993 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.2%
+24.3 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.3%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.429
+5%since 2010
from 0.409 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade23%
US avg: 9.9%
Information16.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance1.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services1.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$185,800
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$800
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $382 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 77.2% in 2000
17.7% rent
Vacancy rate
10.5%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.9%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.6%
+21.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+19%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
67
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rural Retreat on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(1,326)
Black0.4%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(5)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.2%(30)
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(1,555)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(29)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.6%(60)
Diversity Score13%(213)
Diversity Score
13
+482%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.7%
+11.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.6%
+22.9 ptssince 2000
from 71.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.7%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.1 min
+85%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 85.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% 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
4.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 3.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 65.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.9%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.0%
−28.1 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
Female
51.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−39.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2012
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−85.4 ptssince 2013
from 91.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.2%
+8.6 ptssince 2017
from 77.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Rural Retreat

Midway CDP (Seminole County)
Pop 1,407
Royal Palm Estates
Pop 1,369
Felton
Pop 1,386
Bronson
Pop 1,292
Places similar to Rural Retreat
Head to head

Compare Rural Retreat to nearby cities

RURAL RETREAT VS
Wytheville
Income$47,270−24%
Home value$196,800+6%
Population8,128+434%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RURAL RETREAT VS
Bluefield
Income$49,375−20%
Home value$105,400−43%
Population9,158+502%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RURAL RETREAT VS
Pulaski
Income$49,491−20%
Home value$160,500−14%
Population8,807+479%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RURAL RETREAT VS
Abingdon
Income$54,544−12%
Home value$228,000+23%
Population8,284+445%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rural Retreat, Virginia?

Rural Retreat, Virginia has about 1,644 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rural Retreat, Virginia?

The typical household in Rural Retreat, Virginia earns about $61,979 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rural Retreat, Virginia expensive?

In Rural Retreat, Virginia, the median home is worth about $185,800, and the typical rent is about $800 a month.

How educated are people in Rural Retreat, Virginia?

About 22.7% of adults age 25 and over in Rural Retreat, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rural Retreat, Virginia?

About 22.3% of people in Rural Retreat, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rural Retreat, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Rural Retreat, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 672 residents, a change of about 69 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Virginia
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Rural Retreat with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →