Population 19,415 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buchanan County
Household size in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Buchanan County average 2.58 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.0 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.6, Buchanan County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 42.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Buchanan County as they are nationally: 12.6%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Virginia overall (10.7%). The single-parent share is up 1.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Buchanan County
Renters in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.9% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Buchanan County is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 80.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 3.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 26.0% of the housing in Buchanan County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.9 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Buchanan County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Virginia overall, where the median home dates to 1984. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $512 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $598 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $618 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $748 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$236 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Buchanan County runs $748 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $236 a month from 2006–10, a 46% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 34.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Buchanan County
Bachelor's degrees in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Buchanan County: 11.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only two of Virginia's 133 counties have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 69.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 70.4% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.9% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +15.4 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in five adults in Buchanan County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 15.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Virginia county has a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Buchanan County runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 8.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Buchanan County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | 2.58 | 48.6 | 12.6% | 16.9% | 26.0% | 1979 | $748 | 11.1% | 78.9% | 3.7% |
| Dickenson County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 19.4% | 1983 | $732 | 10.7% | 85.3% | 2.3% |
| McDowell County | 2.46 | 42.6 | 11.2% | 22.7% | 30.3% | 1957 | $642 | 6.5% | 75.7% | 6.5% |
| Tazewell County | 2.35 | 46.0 | 9.7% | 25.6% | 17.0% | 1973 | $776 | 17.3% | 87.5% | 4.3% |
| Letcher County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 11.4% | 25.9% | 19.6% | 1976 | $732 | 12.8% | 82.1% | 5.6% |
| Knott County | 2.49 | 43.8 | 12.8% | 27.3% | 17.9% | 1983 | $780 | 20.7% | 73.4% | 9.4% |
| Mercer County | 2.41 | 42.8 | 9.8% | 27.1% | 17.4% | 1973 | $824 | 22.7% | 89.2% | 2.6% |
| Bland County | 2.27 | 47.0 | 6.0% | 13.5% | 23.0% | 1982 | $714 | 18.6% | 92.6% | 2.4% |
| Perry County | 2.47 | 42.0 | 13.9% | 29.6% | 16.4% | 1984 | $786 | 14.7% | 80.1% | 5.1% |
| Leslie County | 2.32 | 41.8 | 10.4% | 14.5% | 13.0% | 1983 | $585 | 11.9% | 80.5% | 4.6% |
| Giles County | 2.49 | 44.9 | 5.5% | 21.1% | 19.0% | 1971 | $799 | 18.5% | 91.4% | 2.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Monroe County, WV · Ford County, IL · Franklin County, ID · Franklin County, IN · Franklin Parish, LA · Freestone County, TX · Fremont County, ID · Gates County, NC · Guanica Municipio, PR · Guayanilla Municipio, PR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Buchanan County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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