Counties in Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

Galax city had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 133 counties in 2024, at 31.1%. Falls Church city had the lowest, at 4%. The median was 11.6% and the figure for Virginia was 9.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest31.1Galax city
Median11.6133 counties
Virginia9.9History

Map of counties, 2024

Accomack County: 13.9 %Albemarle County: 7.7 %Alleghany County: 11.6 %Amelia County: 9.7 %Amherst County: 10.8 %Appomattox County: 14 %Arlington County: 7.4 %Augusta County: 6.6 %Bath County: 23.8 %Bedford County: 8.1 %Bland County: 13.6 %Botetourt County: 6.2 %Brunswick County: 14.9 %Buchanan County: 25.2 %Buckingham County: 12.5 %Campbell County: 10.8 %Caroline County: 11.3 %Carroll County: 15.3 %Charles City County: 9.5 %Charlotte County: 18.9 %Chesterfield County: 7.1 %Clarke County: 7 %Craig County: 13.8 %Culpeper County: 7.9 %Cumberland County: 8.5 %Dickenson County: 17.3 %Dinwiddie County: 11.7 %Essex County: 12.3 %Fairfax County: 5.9 %Fauquier County: 6.8 %Floyd County: 9.8 %Fluvanna County: 7.7 %Franklin County: 12.7 %Frederick County: 6.8 %Giles County: 9.3 %Gloucester County: 5.2 %Goochland County: 5.1 %Grayson County: 16.5 %Greene County: 13.7 %Greensville County: 14.3 %Halifax County: 17.4 %Hanover County: 5.7 %Henrico County: 8.8 %Henry County: 16 %Highland County: 9.5 %Isle of Wight County: 6.8 %James City County: 6.8 %King and Queen County: 17.9 %King George County: 7.5 %King William County: 5.9 %Lancaster County: 10.3 %Lee County: 28.8 %Loudoun County: 4.2 %Louisa County: 10 %Lunenburg County: 15.9 %Madison County: 10.8 %Mathews County: 7.8 %Mecklenburg County: 16.3 %Middlesex County: 7.3 %Montgomery County: 24 %Nelson County: 12.5 %New Kent County: 4.7 %Northampton County: 17.7 %Northumberland County: 11.5 %Nottoway County: 18.5 %Orange County: 9.8 %Page County: 11.4 %Patrick County: 11.7 %Pittsylvania County: 14.6 %Powhatan County: 4.6 %Prince Edward County: 20.9 %Prince George County: 8.9 %Prince William County: 6.2 %Pulaski County: 14.4 %Rappahannock County: 10.3 %Richmond County: 7.7 %Roanoke County: 7.3 %Rockbridge County: 7.5 %Rockingham County: 9.8 %Russell County: 16.7 %Scott County: 20.2 %Shenandoah County: 11.8 %Smyth County: 16.8 %Southampton County: 8.7 %Spotsylvania County: 7.1 %Stafford County: 4.7 %Surry County: 10.5 %Sussex County: 11.6 %Tazewell County: 18.5 %Warren County: 11.6 %Washington County: 11.1 %Westmoreland County: 14 %Wise County: 17.2 %Wythe County: 15.2 %York County: 5.6 %Alexandria city: 7.9 %Bristol city: 18 %Buena Vista city: 18.8 %Charlottesville city: 19.7 %Chesapeake city: 9.4 %Colonial Heights city: 7.9 %Covington city: 25.7 %Danville city: 24.7 %Emporia city: 15.8 %Fairfax city: 9.1 %Falls Church city: 4 %Franklin city: 19.4 %Fredericksburg city: 13.2 %Galax city: 31.1 %Hampton city: 12.7 %Harrisonburg city: 25.7 %Hopewell city: 21.8 %Lexington city: 14 %Lynchburg city: 18.6 %Manassas city: 7.7 %Manassas Park city: 5.1 %Martinsville city: 23.5 %Newport News city: 14.5 %Norfolk city: 16.5 %Norton city: 26.3 %Petersburg city: 21.7 %Poquoson city: 4.5 %Portsmouth city: 17.3 %Radford city: 28.7 %Richmond city: 18.2 %Roanoke city: 18.3 %Salem city: 10.3 %Staunton city: 12.4 %Suffolk city: 9.4 %Virginia Beach city: 8.6 %Waynesboro city: 11.2 %Williamsburg city: 18.8 %Winchester city: 21.5 %
  • Under 7.1
  • 7.1 to 9.4
  • 9.4 to 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 19
  • 19 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2024

Galax city: 31.1 %Galax city31.1Lee County: 28.8 %Lee County28.8Radford city: 28.7 %Radford city28.7Norton city: 26.3 %Norton city26.3Harrisonburg city: 25.7 %Harrisonburg city25.7Covington city: 25.7 %Covington city25.7Buchanan County: 25.2 %Buchanan County25.2Danville city: 24.7 %Danville city24.7Montgomery County: 24 %Montgomery County24Bath County: 23.8 %Bath County23.8Martinsville city: 23.5 %Martinsville city23.5Hopewell city: 21.8 %Hopewell city21.8Petersburg city: 21.7 %Petersburg city21.7Winchester city: 21.5 %Winchester city21.5Prince Edward County: 20.9 %Prince Edward County20.9Scott County: 20.2 %Scott County20.2Charlottesville city: 19.7 %Charlottesville city19.7Franklin city: 19.4 %Franklin city19.4Charlotte County: 18.9 %Charlotte County18.9Buena Vista city: 18.8 %Buena Vista city18.8Williamsburg city: 18.8 %Williamsburg city18.8Lynchburg city: 18.6 %Lynchburg city18.6Tazewell County: 18.5 %Tazewell County18.5Nottoway County: 18.5 %Nottoway County18.5Roanoke city: 18.3 %Roanoke city18.3Richmond city: 18.2 %Richmond city18.2Bristol city: 18 %Bristol city18King and Queen County: 17.9 %King and Queen County17.9Northampton County: 17.7 %Northampton County17.7Halifax County: 17.4 %Halifax County17.4Portsmouth city: 17.3 %Portsmouth city17.3Dickenson County: 17.3 %Dickenson County17.3Wise County: 17.2 %Wise County17.2Smyth County: 16.8 %Smyth County16.8Russell County: 16.7 %Russell County16.7Norfolk city: 16.5 %Norfolk city16.5Grayson County: 16.5 %Grayson County16.5Mecklenburg County: 16.3 %Mecklenburg County16.3Henry County: 16 %Henry County16Lunenburg County: 15.9 %Lunenburg County15.9Galax city: 31.1 %Galax city31.1Lee County: 28.8 %Lee County28.8Radford city: 28.7 %Radford city28.7Norton city: 26.3 %Norton city26.3Harrisonburg city: 25.7 %Harrisonburg city25.7Covington city: 25.7 %Covington city25.7Buchanan County: 25.2 %Buchanan County25.2Danville city: 24.7 %Danville city24.7Montgomery County: 24 %Montgomery County24Bath County: 23.8 %Bath County23.8Martinsville city: 23.5 %Martinsville city23.5Hopewell city: 21.8 %Hopewell city21.8Petersburg city: 21.7 %Petersburg city21.7Winchester city: 21.5 %Winchester city21.5Prince Edward County: 20.9 %Prince Edward County20.9Scott County: 20.2 %Scott County20.2Charlottesville city: 19.7 %Charlottesville city19.7Franklin city: 19.4 %Franklin city19.4Charlotte County: 18.9 %Charlotte County18.9Buena Vista city: 18.8 %Buena Vista city18.8Williamsburg city: 18.8 %Williamsburg city18.8Lynchburg city: 18.6 %Lynchburg city18.6Tazewell County: 18.5 %Tazewell County18.5Nottoway County: 18.5 %Nottoway County18.5Roanoke city: 18.3 %Roanoke city18.3Richmond city: 18.2 %Richmond city18.2Bristol city: 18 %Bristol city18King and Queen County: 17.9 %King and Queen County17.9Northampton County: 17.7 %Northampton County17.7Halifax County: 17.4 %Halifax County17.4Portsmouth city: 17.3 %Portsmouth city17.3Dickenson County: 17.3 %Dickenson County17.3Wise County: 17.2 %Wise County17.2Smyth County: 16.8 %Smyth County16.8Russell County: 16.7 %Russell County16.7Norfolk city: 16.5 %Norfolk city16.5Grayson County: 16.5 %Grayson County16.5Mecklenburg County: 16.3 %Mecklenburg County16.3Henry County: 16 %Henry County16Lunenburg County: 15.9 %Lunenburg County15.9
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Galax city31.1+7.7 pts
2Lee County28.8+1.2 pts
3Radford city28.7-5 pts
4Norton city26.3+0.6 pts
5Harrisonburg city25.7+0.1 pts
6Covington city25.7+2.1 pts
7Buchanan County25.2+1.3 pts
8Danville city24.7-0.3 pts
9Montgomery County24+0.2 pts
10Bath County23.8+2.7 pts
11Martinsville city23.5+1.7 pts
12Hopewell city21.8-2 pts
13Petersburg city21.7+0.7 pts
14Winchester city21.5+2.2 pts
15Prince Edward County20.9-0.7 pts
16Scott County20.2+2.2 pts
17Charlottesville city19.7-3 pts
18Franklin city19.4+2.7 pts
19Charlotte County18.9-5.6 pts
20Buena Vista city18.8-3.1 pts
20Williamsburg city18.8+4.7 pts
22Lynchburg city18.6+1.2 pts
23Tazewell County18.5-0.8 pts
24Nottoway County18.5-0.5 pts
25Roanoke city18.3-1.3 pts
26Richmond city18.2-0.6 pts
27Bristol city18-0.3 pts
28King and Queen County17.9-0.6 pts
29Northampton County17.7+0.7 pts
30Halifax County17.4-0.6 pts
31Portsmouth city17.3-0.3 pts
32Dickenson County17.3-2.9 pts
33Wise County17.2-0.5 pts
34Smyth County16.8+0.3 pts
35Russell County16.7-1.4 pts
36Norfolk city16.5-0.8 pts
37Grayson County16.5-1.6 pts
38Mecklenburg County16.3-1 pts
39Henry County16+1.2 pts
40Lunenburg County15.9-0 pts
41Emporia city15.8+2.3 pts
42Carroll County15.3-0.9 pts
43Wythe County15.2-0.4 pts
44Brunswick County14.9-0.3 pts
45Pittsylvania County14.6-0.4 pts
46Newport News city14.5-0.7 pts
47Pulaski County14.4-0.2 pts
48Greensville County14.3+0.7 pts
49Lexington city14-1.9 pts
50Westmoreland County14+0.2 pts
51Appomattox County14+1.7 pts
52Accomack County13.9-0.9 pts
53Craig County13.8-0.3 pts
54Greene County13.7+2 pts
55Bland County13.6+0.9 pts
56Fredericksburg city13.2-3.2 pts
57Hampton city12.7-0.3 pts
58Franklin County12.7+1.1 pts
59Nelson County12.5-1.9 pts
60Buckingham County12.5-1.3 pts
61Staunton city12.4-0.2 pts
62Essex County12.3-3.2 pts
63Shenandoah County11.8-0.5 pts
64Patrick County11.7+0.8 pts
65Dinwiddie County11.7+1 pts
66Alleghany County11.6-1.4 pts
66Warren County11.6+0.3 pts
68Sussex County11.6-0.5 pts
69Northumberland County11.5+1.2 pts
70Page County11.4+1.8 pts
71Caroline County11.3-0.3 pts
72Waynesboro city11.2-0.5 pts
73Washington County11.1+0.1 pts
74Campbell County10.8+0.7 pts
75Amherst County10.8-0 pts
76Madison County10.8+3.7 pts
77Surry County10.5-1.1 pts
78Lancaster County10.3-2.8 pts
79Rappahannock County10.3+0.8 pts
80Salem city10.3-0.6 pts
81Louisa County10-0.1 pts
82Floyd County9.8+1.6 pts
83Orange County9.8-0.2 pts
84Rockingham County9.8+0.2 pts
85Amelia County9.7-1.4 pts
86Highland County9.5-0.8 pts
87Charles City County9.5-2 pts
88Chesapeake city9.4+0.7 pts
89Suffolk city9.4-0.5 pts
90Giles County9.3+0.4 pts
91Fairfax city9.1-0.8 pts
92Prince George County8.9+0.9 pts
93Henrico County8.8+0.3 pts
94Southampton County8.7+0.1 pts
95Virginia Beach city8.6+0.2 pts
96Cumberland County8.5+0.8 pts
97Bedford County8.1-0 pts
98Alexandria city7.9-0.5 pts
99Colonial Heights city7.9-1.7 pts
100Culpeper County7.9-0.3 pts
101Mathews County7.8-0.1 pts
102Manassas city7.7+1 pts
103Richmond County7.7-1.6 pts
104Fluvanna County7.7-0.1 pts
105Albemarle County7.7+0.9 pts
106Rockbridge County7.5-0.5 pts
107King George County7.5+1 pts
108Arlington County7.4+0.3 pts
109Middlesex County7.3-2.2 pts
110Roanoke County7.30 pts
111Spotsylvania County7.1+0.1 pts
112Chesterfield County7.1+0.2 pts
113Clarke County7+0.2 pts
114James City County6.8+0.4 pts
115Frederick County6.8-0.3 pts
116Fauquier County6.8+0.6 pts
117Isle of Wight County6.8-0.6 pts
118Augusta County6.6-0.7 pts
119Prince William County6.2+0.1 pts
120Botetourt County6.2+0.1 pts
121Fairfax County5.90 pts
122King William County5.9-2 pts
123Hanover County5.7+0.5 pts
124York County5.6+0.2 pts
125Gloucester County5.2-1.6 pts
126Goochland County5.1+1.3 pts
127Manassas Park city5.1-0.7 pts
128New Kent County4.7-0.5 pts
129Stafford County4.7-0.4 pts
130Powhatan County4.6+1.3 pts
131Poquoson city4.5-1.3 pts
132Loudoun County4.2+0.3 pts
133Falls Church city4+0.4 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Galax city, with 31.1% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Falls Church city, with 4% in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings