Virginia · GEOID 51167

Russell County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 25,538 · 12,761 housing units

Median household income

$50,012

State $99,933

Median home value

$120,600

State $421,251

Median gross rent

$653

State $1,592

Homeownership rate

76.3%

State 67.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

36.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

13.9%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.5%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.0%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

16.4%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.41

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Russell County	Virginia
Population	25,538	8,705,170
Population density (per sq. mi.)	53.93	—
Median household income	$50,012	$99,933
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$73,000	—
Households	10,669	—
Average household size	2.36 people	—
Owner-occupied	76.3%	67.3%
Renter-occupied	23.7%	32.7%
Race	96.8% White · 1.1% 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

Russell County compared with Virginia.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

13.1% 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	29.3%	$35,965	$899	$102,854
1 earner	37.2%	$62,741	$1,569	$202,524
2 earners	28.3%	$101,345	$2,534	$346,221
3+ earners	5.1%	$127,100	$3,178	$442,090

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

10,669

Average size: 2.36 people

Households with children

2,260

21.2% of households

Per-capita income

$29,997

Poverty rate: 17.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

76.3% owner-occupied vs. state average 67.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 72.3% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 5.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

48.4% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,980.00 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: $120,600.

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: $653.

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 2,092 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 5.7% · For rent 5.0% · Seasonal 5.2% · Other 84.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

10.8% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 89.2% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

0.9%

109 units of 12,761 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

13.8%

1,758 units of 12,761 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

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$40,010

100% MHI$50,012

120% MHI$60,014

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Russell County 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	$51,100	$58,400	$73,000
120% AMI	$61,300	$70,100	$87,600

HUD FMR Area: Russell County, VA. 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

36.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (19.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

13.9% 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 Russell County.

Covered employment

4,294

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

508

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$49,699

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 61 Educational services NAICS 61	740	$41,331	$122,829	+$2,229	$1,033
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	736	$32,632	$90,448	−$30,152	$816
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	597	$60,467	$194,059	+$73,459	$1,512
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	516	$46,110	$140,618	+$20,018	$1,153
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	451	$47,384	$145,360	+$24,760	$1,185
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	404	$71,425	$234,849	+$114,249	$1,786
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	230	$75,286	$249,221	+$128,621	$1,882
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	184	$50,636	$157,465	+$36,865	$1,266
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	174	$59,432	$190,207	+$69,607	$1,486
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	170	$48,121	$148,103	+$27,503	$1,203
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	40	$45,042	$136,642	+$16,042	$1,126
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	19	$33,376	$93,217	−$27,383	$834
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	15	$36,216	$103,789	−$16,811	$905
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	12	$22,028	$50,976	−$69,624	$551
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	4	$45,265	$137,472	+$16,872	$1,132
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	2	$54,154	$170,560	+$49,960	$1,354

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	740	$41,331	$122,829	+$2,229	$1,033
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	474	$62,981	$203,417	+$82,817	$1,575
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	434	$20,286	$44,492	−$76,108	$507
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	404	$71,425	$234,849	+$114,249	$1,786
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	399	$75,260	$249,124	+$128,524	$1,882
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	200	$57,229	$182,006	+$61,406	$1,431
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	173	$76,450	$253,553	+$132,953	$1,911
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	172	$29,559	$79,009	−$41,591	$739
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	169	$30,979	$84,295	−$36,305	$774
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	139	$29,243	$77,833	−$42,767	$731
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	129	$51,377	$160,223	+$39,623	$1,284
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	112	$39,830	$117,241	−$3,359	$996
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	108	$27,336	$70,734	−$49,866	$683
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	107	$55,598	$175,935	+$55,335	$1,390
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	100	$51,186	$159,512	+$38,912	$1,280
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	71	$32,674	$90,604	−$29,996	$817
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	56	$47,843	$147,068	+$26,468	$1,196
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	51	$58,487	$186,689	+$66,089	$1,462
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	50	$39,184	$114,837	−$5,763	$980
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	41	$30,518	$82,579	−$38,021	$763
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	37	$62,112	$200,182	+$79,582	$1,553
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	37	$34,324	$96,746	−$23,854	$858
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	34	$51,832	$161,917	+$41,317	$1,296
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	27	$37,828	$109,789	−$10,811	$946
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	25	$42,008	$125,349	+$4,749	$1,050
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	23	$48,997	$151,364	+$30,764	$1,225
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	21	$53,110	$166,674	+$46,074	$1,328
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	18	$25,627	$64,373	−$56,227	$641
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	12	$22,028	$50,976	−$69,624	$551
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	4	$45,265	$137,472	+$16,872	$1,132
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	2	$54,154	$170,560	+$49,960	$1,354

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: 51167 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.