Population 29,420 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Smyth County
Household size in Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.36 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Smyth County is a place of small households, averaging 2.31 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.40, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the center.
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 Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.7, Smyth 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 42.3 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the south.
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 Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Smyth County as they are nationally: 11.0%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points, 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 Smyth County
Renters in Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.4% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.5% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.0% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Smyth County own their homes; 29.0% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 56.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the south. The renter share is up 1.9 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 Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.4% of the housing in Smyth 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 edged up 0.5 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 Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +6 |
Housing in Smyth County leans older: the median home dates to 1973, against 1980 nationally. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the center.
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 Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $506 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $567 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $599 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $758 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$252 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Smyth County pays $758 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $252 a month since 2006–10, up 50%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.0% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the southeast.
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 Smyth County
Bachelor's degrees in Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Smyth County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 2.0 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Smyth 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 Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.6% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.1% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.5% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.1% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.5 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Smyth County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.1% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 11.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Smyth County
| Period | Smyth County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Smyth County runs below the national rate: 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, as it has 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).
Smyth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smyth County | 2.31 | 45.7 | 11.0% | 29.0% | 16.4% | 1973 | $758 | 16.6% | 87.1% | 3.5% |
| Washington County | 2.41 | 46.6 | 8.3% | 24.2% | 13.3% | 1983 | $885 | 26.4% | 90.6% | 2.9% |
| Wythe County | 2.29 | 45.1 | 8.8% | 23.0% | 11.1% | 1980 | $826 | 19.3% | 89.9% | 4.2% |
| Russell County | 2.38 | 46.8 | 10.1% | 23.7% | 16.5% | 1980 | $738 | 13.2% | 82.3% | 3.6% |
| Carroll County | 2.32 | 49.0 | 8.3% | 22.9% | 22.9% | 1982 | $745 | 17.2% | 85.9% | 5.8% |
| Wise County | 2.37 | 42.2 | 12.7% | 25.8% | 15.5% | 1979 | $802 | 15.4% | 80.2% | 8.5% |
| Norton City | 2.31 | 40.2 | 19.5% | 50.0% | 11.8% | 1973 | $573 | 14.0% | 94.3% | 4.1% |
| Floyd County | 2.35 | 47.9 | 7.0% | 16.1% | 16.1% | 1986 | $859 | 24.4% | 91.1% | 3.9% |
| 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% |
| Pittsylvania County | 2.36 | 47.6 | 11.7% | 21.3% | 14.4% | 1981 | $876 | 16.0% | 85.7% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Franklin County, AL · San Miguel County, NM · San Lorenzo Municipio, PR · San Jacinto County, TX · San German Municipio, PR · Geary County, KS · Garrett County, MD · Fulton County, IL · Freeborn County, MN · Fredericksburg City, VA
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 Smyth 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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