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COUNTY

Buchanan County

Virginia · 18,492 residents (2025 est.) · 502.854 sq mi
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#50Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-9.2%
The short version

Buchanan County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,886. Population has fallen 28% since 2000, a loss of 7,563 residents. 11% 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 $94,900. With a median age of 47.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 54% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,415
−28%since 2000
from 26,978 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
39 / sq mi
−18%since 2009
from 47 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
47.8
+23%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:18,492 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
18K22K25K29K33K1990201020202024Buchanan County
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.2%(823)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.5%(673)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.8%(1,126)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195%(974)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(910)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.4%(2,220)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.8%(2,297)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.4%(2,787)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.3%(2,972)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.7%(2,656)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.4%(1,438)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.8%(539)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,886
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,213 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,508
+84%since 2000
from $12,788 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
23.7%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
+2%since 2010
from 0.454 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing13.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing12.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Information8.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,900
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$743
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $336 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
16.9% rent
Vacancy rate
27.0%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.1%
+8.7 ptssince 2009
from 30.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
−4%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
24
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buchanan County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(26,007)
Black2.6%(706)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(128)
Asian0.1%(37)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.2%(18,095)
Black3.8%(739)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(213)
Asian0.8%(152)
Other1.1%(216)
Diversity Score
16
+46%since 2009
from 11 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
55
+75%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.6%(108)
Puerto Rican0.3%(56)
Cuban0.1%(15)
Salvadoran0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Chinese0.5%(105)
Vietnamese0.1%(28)
Korean0.1%(19)
Ancestry
American59.7%(11,599)
English7.8%(1,512)
German3.3%(634)
Irish3%(589)
Italian1.1%(219)
British0.5%(97)
French0.5%(94)
Scottish0.4%(87)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(42)
Welsh0.2%(32)
Dutch0.2%(31)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Ethiopian0.1%(29)
Ghanaian0.1%(17)
Polish0%(8)
Czech0%(4)
Haitian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
78.6%
+25.7 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.1 min
+22%since 2000
from 24.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.5%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% 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
5.5%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
33.7%
−6.8 ptssince 2011
from 40.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.6%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.8%
−26.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
48.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.9%
−46.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
37.7%
+7.3 ptssince 2012
from 30.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−83.5 ptssince 2013
from 88.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.2%
+19.9 ptssince 2017
from 57.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 98.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.1%(2,616)
Married50.6%(4,392)
Widowed5.8%(503)
Divorced13.4%(1,167)
Women 15+
Never married19.9%(1,614)
Married49%(3,979)
Widowed16.3%(1,320)
Divorced14.8%(1,202)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 18,965
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Pop 18,311
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Pop 18,132
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Pop 17,054
Places similar to Buchanan County
Head to head

Compare Buchanan County to nearby counties

BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Dickenson County
Income$47,254+10%
Home value$102,700+8%
Population13,236−28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
McDowell County
Income$31,559−26%
Home value$50,000−47%
Population16,878−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Russell County
Income$50,012+17%
Home value$120,600+27%
Population25,332+37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Pike County
Income$44,312+3%
Home value$112,000+18%
Population54,721+196%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buchanan County, Virginia?

Buchanan County, Virginia has about 19,415 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buchanan County, Virginia?

The typical household in Buchanan County, Virginia earns about $42,886 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buchanan County, Virginia expensive?

In Buchanan County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $94,900, and the typical rent is about $743 a month.

How educated are people in Buchanan County, Virginia?

About 11.5% of adults age 25 and over in Buchanan County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buchanan County, Virginia?

About 25.2% of people in Buchanan County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buchanan County, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Buchanan County, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 11,918 residents, a change of about -38 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 101Census Tract 106Census Tract 107Census Tract 103Census Tract 102Census Tract 104Census Tract 105
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 24614ZIP 24639ZIP 24631ZIP 24656ZIP 24620ZIP 24646ZIP 24603ZIP 24622ZIP 24634ZIP 24607ZIP 24657ZIP 24239
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Buchanan County, Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy