Virginia · GEOID 51720

Norton city

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 3,577 · 1,764 housing units

Median household income

$41,495

State $99,933

Median home value

$110,000

State $421,251

Median gross rent

$692

State $1,592

Homeownership rate

50.0%

State 67.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

41.4%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

21.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

6.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.6%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

9.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.65

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Norton city	Virginia
Population	3,577	8,705,170
Population density (per sq. mi.)	478.40	—
Median household income	$41,495	$99,933
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$64,500	—
Households	1,605	—
Average household size	2.20 people	—
Owner-occupied	50.0%	67.3%
Renter-occupied	50.0%	32.7%
Race	91.6% White · 2.2% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Norton city compared with Virginia.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

13.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 42.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	32.8%	$40,598	$1,015	$120,100
1 earner	38.1%	$45,529	$1,138	$138,455
2 earners	18.6%	$130,000	$3,250	$452,885
3+ earners	10.5%	$99,318	$2,483	$338,676

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

1,605

Average size: 2.20 people

Households with children

393

24.5% of households

Per-capita income

$26,846

Poverty rate: 26.5%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

50.0% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 54.0% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 25.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

64.5% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,973.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $110,000.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $692.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 159 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 36.5% · For rent 18.9% · Seasonal 0.0% · Other 44.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

55.3% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 44.7% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.0%

0 units of 1,764 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.0%

71 units of 1,764 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$33,196

100% MHI$41,495

120% MHI$49,794

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Norton city should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$44,750	$51,150	$63,900
100% AMI	$45,150	$51,600	$64,500
120% AMI	$54,200	$61,900	$77,400

HUD FMR Area: Wise County-Norton city, VA HUD Nonmetro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

41.4% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (31.9% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

21.8% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Norton city.

Covered employment

2,730

Across 12 sectors

Establishments

201

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$43,288

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	905	$55,023	$173,795	+$63,795	$1,376
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	637	$29,218	$77,740	−$32,260	$730
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	416	$20,429	$45,024	−$64,976	$511
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	194	$61,269	$197,045	+$87,045	$1,532
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	156	$43,379	$130,452	+$20,452	$1,084
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	116	$40,811	$120,893	+$10,893	$1,020
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	101	$41,402	$123,093	+$13,093	$1,035
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	80	$101,165	$345,551	+$235,551	$2,529
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	54	$36,369	$104,358	−$5,642	$909
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	36	$55,379	$175,120	+$65,120	$1,384
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	24	$47,724	$146,625	+$36,625	$1,193
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	11	$45,984	$140,149	+$30,149	$1,150

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	370	$20,378	$44,834	−$65,166	$509
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	321	$77,196	$256,330	+$146,330	$1,930
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	156	$43,379	$130,452	+$20,452	$1,084
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	115	$49,882	$154,658	+$44,658	$1,247
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	101	$43,119	$129,484	+$19,484	$1,078
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	101	$41,402	$123,093	+$13,093	$1,035
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	46	$20,840	$46,554	−$63,446	$521
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	45	$40,346	$119,162	+$9,162	$1,009
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	44	$19,462	$41,425	−$68,575	$487
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	32	$30,897	$83,990	−$26,010	$772
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	31	$34,380	$96,955	−$13,045	$860
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	29	$48,941	$151,156	+$41,156	$1,224
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	29	$46,948	$143,737	+$33,737	$1,174
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	28	$74,049	$244,616	+$134,616	$1,851
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	27	$25,306	$63,178	−$46,822	$633
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	27	$32,731	$90,816	−$19,184	$818
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	26	$104,405	$357,611	+$247,611	$2,610
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	23	$33,342	$93,091	−$16,909	$834
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	20	$47,703	$146,547	+$36,547	$1,193
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	11	$45,984	$140,149	+$30,149	$1,150
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	11	$49,930	$154,837	+$44,837	$1,248
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	10	$58,838	$187,995	+$77,995	$1,471
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	3	$74,767	$247,289	+$137,289	$1,869

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	3,280	(910)	(22%)	$13.97	$29,060	$77,152	$727
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	3,950	(1,510)	(28%)	$14.49	$30,140	$81,172	$754
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	190	60	46%	$15.33	$31,880	$87,649	$797
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,660	150	10%	$16.09	$33,470	$93,567	$837
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,650	(790)	(23%)	$16.35	$34,010	$95,577	$850
Tellers SOC 43-3071	350	(100)	(22%)	$16.68	$34,700	$98,146	$868
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,240	(40)	(3%)	$19.56	$40,680	$120,405	$1,017
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	650	(570)	(47%)	$19.58	$40,720	$120,554	$1,018
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	290	130	81%	$19.73	$41,030	$121,708	$1,026
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,550	(390)	(20%)	$20.00	$41,600	$123,830	$1,040
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,070	(1,700)	(45%)	$20.10	$41,810	$124,612	$1,045
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	510	230	82%	$22.17	$46,120	$140,655	$1,153
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	190	(180)	(49%)	$23.40	$48,670	$150,147	$1,217
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,340	110	9%	$23.58	$49,050	$151,561	$1,226
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,990	(380)	(16%)	$24.99	$51,980	$162,468	$1,300
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	130	—	—	$25.85	$53,770	$169,131	$1,344
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,030	430	72%	$26.94	$56,030	$177,543	$1,401
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,610	120	8%	—	$57,270	$182,159	$1,432
Electricians SOC 47-2111	350	(180)	(34%)	$35.23	$73,270	$241,716	$1,832
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,080	70	3%	$39.41	$81,970	$274,101	$2,049

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 51720 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.