Population 21,900 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lee County
Household size in Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.52 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.43 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Lee County run small, averaging 2.43 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.52, as it has nationally.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.4 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.1 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Lee County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.8, in line with the national trend.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Lee County (11.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while 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 Lee County
Renters in Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Lee County rent their homes (27.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 65.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share is up 0.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.6% of the housing in Lee 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. Vacancy has risen 3.4 points since 2006–10, 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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Lee County was built around 1977, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in Virginia overall, where the median home dates to 1984. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the north.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $450 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $523 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $568 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $769 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$319 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Lee County runs $769 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $319 a month from 2006–10, a 71% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the west.
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 Lee County
Bachelor's degrees in Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.1% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lee County: 16.0% 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 3.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Lee County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Virginia counties.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.6% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.1% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.0% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Lee County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.0% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 11.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only 12 of Virginia's 133 counties have 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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lee County runs well above the national rate: 8.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only six of Virginia's 133 counties have higher unemployment. Unemployment has edged up 1.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Lee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 2.43 | 45.9 | 11.7% | 27.0% | 19.6% | 1977 | $769 | 16.0% | 83.0% | 8.1% |
| Harlan County | 2.38 | 41.3 | 13.2% | 28.4% | 17.4% | 1976 | $705 | 13.8% | 81.7% | 9.8% |
| Scott County | 2.28 | 47.8 | 10.5% | 23.0% | 22.0% | 1976 | $700 | 15.0% | 84.3% | 3.3% |
| Bell County | 2.34 | 39.9 | 14.5% | 41.2% | 14.0% | 1980 | $624 | 18.0% | 80.3% | 9.6% |
| Bristol City | 2.38 | 45.6 | 17.7% | 36.4% | 19.3% | 1965 | $867 | 24.0% | 89.6% | 7.0% |
| Whitley County | 2.65 | 35.4 | 15.1% | 33.2% | 14.1% | 1987 | $797 | 20.5% | 84.8% | 6.1% |
| Washington County | 2.41 | 46.6 | 8.3% | 24.2% | 13.3% | 1983 | $885 | 26.4% | 90.6% | 2.9% |
| McCreary County | 2.53 | 40.6 | 11.8% | 25.8% | 15.0% | 1987 | $584 | 10.5% | 78.6% | 5.4% |
| Smyth County | 2.31 | 45.7 | 11.0% | 29.0% | 16.4% | 1973 | $758 | 16.6% | 87.1% | 3.5% |
| Wayne County | 2.43 | 43.3 | 10.7% | 30.9% | 16.8% | 1982 | $736 | 14.6% | 81.1% | 5.3% |
| Grayson County | 2.26 | 48.6 | 6.5% | 19.6% | 28.4% | 1975 | $736 | 15.5% | 85.3% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Humboldt County, NV · Henderson County, TN · Henry County, AL · Henry County, IA · Henry County, OH · Houston County, TX · Hubbard County, MN · Hughes County, OK · Hughes County, SD · Hempstead County, AR
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 Lee 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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