Population 22,531 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rockbridge County
Household size in Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Rockbridge County is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.37 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the southwest.
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 Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.1 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.1 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Rockbridge County skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 45.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Rockbridge County: 8.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Rockbridge County
Renters in Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.6% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Rockbridge County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly half of owners (48.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 2.9 points from 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 Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.7% of the housing in Rockbridge 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.
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 Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Rockbridge County was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. 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. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
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 Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $647 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $747 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $806 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $940 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$292 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Rockbridge County runs $940 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $292 a month from 2006–10, a 45% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.2% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 Rockbridge County
Bachelor's degrees in Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.3% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.6% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Rockbridge County (33.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Virginia as a whole (42.5%). The share with a degree has risen 10.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.6% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.8% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.3% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Rockbridge County have finished high school (91.3%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Virginia. The share with a diploma has risen 10.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Rockbridge County
| Period | Rockbridge County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rockbridge County runs below the national rate: 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.9 points, a smaller 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).
Rockbridge 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockbridge County | 2.32 | 48.1 | 8.6% | 20.7% | 14.7% | 1980 | $940 | 33.6% | 91.3% | 3.5% |
| Lexington City | 2.24 | 39.0 | 8.8% | 46.2% | 25.3% | 1962 | $1,099 | 42.6% | 90.5% | 0.4% |
| Buena Vista City | 2.37 | 40.2 | 16.1% | 43.5% | 14.9% | 1971 | $1,487 | 23.6% | 88.4% | 3.4% |
| Alleghany County | 2.30 | 47.8 | 8.0% | 17.7% | 18.6% | 1968 | $749 | 14.4% | 89.8% | 2.1% |
| Nelson County | 2.40 | 49.2 | 5.7% | 20.3% | 25.6% | 1984 | $919 | 36.2% | 90.4% | 3.0% |
| Covington City | 2.19 | 40.9 | 15.8% | 29.9% | 14.8% | 1951 | $789 | 9.4% | 86.1% | 4.0% |
| Greenbrier County | 2.21 | 46.8 | 9.6% | 26.9% | 17.2% | 1977 | $843 | 22.4% | 87.4% | 4.1% |
| Fluvanna County | 2.65 | 44.8 | 7.8% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 1994 | $1,517 | 37.5% | 93.6% | 4.2% |
| Summers County | 2.32 | 49.1 | 6.6% | 18.8% | 26.5% | 1973 | $928 | 18.3% | 83.5% | 2.2% |
| Goochland County | 2.51 | 49.8 | 4.9% | 15.1% | 7.9% | 1998 | $1,483 | 45.6% | 95.4% | 1.6% |
| Raleigh County | 2.50 | 43.6 | 13.7% | 24.7% | 15.3% | 1977 | $868 | 22.1% | 85.9% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Boyle County, KY · Adams County, NE · Bee County, TX · Bolivar County, MS · Yabucoa Municipio, PR · Morgan County, CO · Muhlenberg County, KY · Montgomery County, KY · Montgomery County, KS · Montgomery County, IL
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 Rockbridge 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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