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COUNTY

Lee County

Virginia · 21,642 residents (2025 est.) · 435.378 sq mi
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The short version

Lee County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,827. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 14% 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 $98,900. With a median age of 45.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 55% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% 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
21,900
−7%since 2000
from 23,589 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
50 / sq mi
−12%since 2009
from 57 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.5
+15%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,642 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
22K23K24K25K26K1990201020202024Lee County
202422K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.3%(939)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.3%(938)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.2%(1,350)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(1,157)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(1,022)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.6%(2,764)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.1%(2,644)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.4%(2,933)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(3,089)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.6%(2,970)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.6%(1,675)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(419)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,827
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,972 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,828
+82%since 2000
from $13,625 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.1%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.8%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 23.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
+11%since 2010
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade10.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing1.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$98,900
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$738
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
27.0% rent
Vacancy rate
21.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.0%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 37.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
−4%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
8
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lee County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(23,132)
Black0.4%(103)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(120)
Asian0.2%(38)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(20,057)
Black4.2%(925)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(525)
Asian0.2%(40)
Other1.6%(353)
Diversity Score
20
+103%since 2009
from 10 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
58
−17%since 2020
from 70 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
Mexican0.5%(113)
Puerto Rican0.3%(74)
Cuban0%(5)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(25)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American22.5%(4,933)
English18.9%(4,136)
Irish9.9%(2,168)
German5.7%(1,248)
French1.2%(269)
Scottish1.2%(254)
Welsh1%(210)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(184)
Italian0.7%(153)
Polish0.5%(120)
Dutch0.3%(65)
Canadian0.3%(57)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
Croatian0.3%(57)
Hungarian0.2%(47)
Austrian0.2%(44)
Swedish0.2%(33)
British0.1%(28)
Portuguese0.1%(27)
Finnish0.1%(24)
Greek0.1%(24)
Danish0.1%(22)
Romanian0.1%(15)
Swiss0.1%(15)
Czech0.1%(14)
Ukrainian0.1%(14)
Arab0.1%(12)
Slovak0%(7)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.1%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.8%
+23.2 ptssince 2000
from 60.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.2 min
+22%since 2000
from 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 83.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.9%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% 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
8.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
40.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 46.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.8%
−23.2 ptssince 2009
from 57.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Female
46.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.3%
−43.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
28.9%
+3.8 ptssince 2012
from 25.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.0%
−78.3 ptssince 2013
from 85.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
75.8%
+27.0 ptssince 2017
from 48.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.7%(3,449)
Married47.1%(4,684)
Widowed3.7%(367)
Divorced14.5%(1,439)
Women 15+
Never married18.9%(1,654)
Married50.7%(4,424)
Widowed14.2%(1,241)
Divorced16.2%(1,415)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Lee County to nearby counties

LEE COUNTY VS
Harlan County
Income$41,693same
Home value$73,700−25%
Population24,725+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Hancock County
Income$34,960−16%
Home value$134,500+36%
Population7,075−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Hawkins County
Income$56,936+36%
Home value$176,300+78%
Population59,559+175%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEE COUNTY VS
Scott County
Income$46,349+11%
Home value$143,000+45%
Population21,200−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lee County, Virginia?

Lee County, Virginia has about 21,900 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lee County, Virginia earns about $41,827 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lee County, Virginia expensive?

In Lee County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $98,900, and the typical rent is about $738 a month.

How educated are people in Lee County, Virginia?

About 14.1% of adults age 25 and over in Lee County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lee County, Virginia?

About 28.8% of people in Lee County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lee County, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Lee County, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,596 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

7 census tracts
Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503.01
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 24277ZIP 24263ZIP 24248ZIP 24281ZIP 24243ZIP 24282ZIP 24265ZIP 24221
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

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