Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in Virginia

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

Radford city had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 133 counties in 2021, at 35.4%. Falls Church city had the lowest, at 2.5%. The median was 12.3% and the figure for Virginia was 9.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest35.4Radford city
Lowest2.5Falls Church city
Median12.3133 counties
Virginia9.9History

Map of counties, 2021

Accomack County: 16.9 %Albemarle County: 6.9 %Alleghany County: 14 %Amelia County: 11.1 %Amherst County: 11.3 %Appomattox County: 13.3 %Arlington County: 6.5 %Augusta County: 8.4 %Bath County: 19.2 %Bedford County: 8.8 %Bland County: 11.8 %Botetourt County: 6.7 %Brunswick County: 17.8 %Buchanan County: 25.2 %Buckingham County: 14.8 %Campbell County: 9.5 %Caroline County: 10.8 %Carroll County: 15.2 %Charles City County: 12.3 %Charlotte County: 19.1 %Chesterfield County: 6.9 %Clarke County: 5.8 %Craig County: 14.2 %Culpeper County: 7.2 %Cumberland County: 7.1 %Dickenson County: 21.2 %Dinwiddie County: 10.5 %Essex County: 16.1 %Fairfax County: 6.1 %Fauquier County: 5.9 %Floyd County: 9.3 %Fluvanna County: 4.6 %Franklin County: 13.3 %Frederick County: 6.7 %Giles County: 10.3 %Gloucester County: 7.5 %Goochland County: 4.2 %Grayson County: 17.6 %Greene County: 10.1 %Greensville County: 11.4 %Halifax County: 15.1 %Hanover County: 5.5 %Henrico County: 8.2 %Henry County: 14.9 %Highland County: 12.6 %Isle of Wight County: 8.8 %James City County: 6.9 %King and Queen County: 14.3 %King George County: 6.5 %King William County: 7.8 %Lancaster County: 10.9 %Lee County: 26.2 %Loudoun County: 3.3 %Louisa County: 10.8 %Lunenburg County: 14 %Madison County: 8.7 %Mathews County: 8 %Mecklenburg County: 17.9 %Middlesex County: 9.8 %Montgomery County: 24.8 %Nelson County: 12.5 %New Kent County: 4.6 %Northampton County: 16.5 %Northumberland County: 15.6 %Nottoway County: 16.5 %Orange County: 11.3 %Page County: 12.3 %Patrick County: 10.8 %Pittsylvania County: 15.2 %Powhatan County: 4.5 %Prince Edward County: 23.6 %Prince George County: 9.3 %Prince William County: 5.8 %Pulaski County: 12.8 %Rappahannock County: 6.1 %Richmond County: 10.3 %Roanoke County: 6.9 %Rockbridge County: 10.3 %Rockingham County: 7.6 %Russell County: 18.5 %Scott County: 15.4 %Shenandoah County: 11.4 %Smyth County: 18.9 %Southampton County: 6.8 %Spotsylvania County: 7.1 %Stafford County: 5.1 %Surry County: 14.8 %Sussex County: 10.5 %Tazewell County: 17.6 %Warren County: 10.9 %Washington County: 12.7 %Westmoreland County: 16.3 %Wise County: 19.7 %Wythe County: 15.2 %York County: 4.9 %Alexandria city: 9.6 %Bristol city: 17.7 %Buena Vista city: 21.4 %Charlottesville city: 23.1 %Chesapeake city: 8 %Colonial Heights city: 9 %Covington city: 15.8 %Danville city: 23.1 %Emporia city: 21.5 %Fairfax city: 10.1 %Falls Church city: 2.5 %Franklin city: 19.8 %Fredericksburg city: 14.3 %Galax city: 22 %Hampton city: 14.4 %Harrisonburg city: 25.8 %Hopewell city: 24 %Lexington city: 22.8 %Lynchburg city: 17.6 %Manassas city: 5.6 %Manassas Park city: 4.4 %Martinsville city: 25.4 %Newport News city: 15.8 %Norfolk city: 17.4 %Norton city: 28.3 %Petersburg city: 21.3 %Poquoson city: 4.4 %Portsmouth city: 17.2 %Radford city: 35.4 %Richmond city: 19.8 %Roanoke city: 18.4 %Salem city: 10 %Staunton city: 12.3 %Suffolk city: 9.6 %Virginia Beach city: 7.8 %Waynesboro city: 16.6 %Williamsburg city: 15.5 %Winchester city: 13.3 %
  • Under 6.9
  • 6.9 to 9.6
  • 9.6 to 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 19
  • 19 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Radford city: 35.4 %Radford city35.4Norton city: 28.3 %Norton city28.3Lee County: 26.2 %Lee County26.2Harrisonburg city: 25.8 %Harrisonburg city25.8Martinsville city: 25.4 %Martinsville city25.4Buchanan County: 25.2 %Buchanan County25.2Montgomery County: 24.8 %Montgomery County24.8Hopewell city: 24 %Hopewell city24Prince Edward County: 23.6 %Prince Edward County23.6Danville city: 23.1 %Danville city23.1Charlottesville city: 23.1 %Charlottesville city23.1Lexington city: 22.8 %Lexington city22.8Galax city: 22 %Galax city22Emporia city: 21.5 %Emporia city21.5Buena Vista city: 21.4 %Buena Vista city21.4Petersburg city: 21.3 %Petersburg city21.3Dickenson County: 21.2 %Dickenson County21.2Franklin city: 19.8 %Franklin city19.8Richmond city: 19.8 %Richmond city19.8Wise County: 19.7 %Wise County19.7Bath County: 19.2 %Bath County19.2Charlotte County: 19.1 %Charlotte County19.1Smyth County: 18.9 %Smyth County18.9Russell County: 18.5 %Russell County18.5Roanoke city: 18.4 %Roanoke city18.4Mecklenburg County: 17.9 %Mecklenburg County17.9Brunswick County: 17.8 %Brunswick County17.8Bristol city: 17.7 %Bristol city17.7Lynchburg city: 17.6 %Lynchburg city17.6Tazewell County: 17.6 %Tazewell County17.6Grayson County: 17.6 %Grayson County17.6Norfolk city: 17.4 %Norfolk city17.4Portsmouth city: 17.2 %Portsmouth city17.2Accomack County: 16.9 %Accomack County16.9Waynesboro city: 16.6 %Waynesboro city16.6Nottoway County: 16.5 %Nottoway County16.5Northampton County: 16.5 %Northampton County16.5Westmoreland County: 16.3 %Westmoreland County16.3Essex County: 16.1 %Essex County16.1Covington city: 15.8 %Covington city15.8Radford city: 35.4 %Radford city35.4Norton city: 28.3 %Norton city28.3Lee County: 26.2 %Lee County26.2Harrisonburg city: 25.8 %Harrisonburg city25.8Martinsville city: 25.4 %Martinsville city25.4Buchanan County: 25.2 %Buchanan County25.2Montgomery County: 24.8 %Montgomery County24.8Hopewell city: 24 %Hopewell city24Prince Edward County: 23.6 %Prince Edward County23.6Danville city: 23.1 %Danville city23.1Charlottesville city: 23.1 %Charlottesville city23.1Lexington city: 22.8 %Lexington city22.8Galax city: 22 %Galax city22Emporia city: 21.5 %Emporia city21.5Buena Vista city: 21.4 %Buena Vista city21.4Petersburg city: 21.3 %Petersburg city21.3Dickenson County: 21.2 %Dickenson County21.2Franklin city: 19.8 %Franklin city19.8Richmond city: 19.8 %Richmond city19.8Wise County: 19.7 %Wise County19.7Bath County: 19.2 %Bath County19.2Charlotte County: 19.1 %Charlotte County19.1Smyth County: 18.9 %Smyth County18.9Russell County: 18.5 %Russell County18.5Roanoke city: 18.4 %Roanoke city18.4Mecklenburg County: 17.9 %Mecklenburg County17.9Brunswick County: 17.8 %Brunswick County17.8Bristol city: 17.7 %Bristol city17.7Lynchburg city: 17.6 %Lynchburg city17.6Tazewell County: 17.6 %Tazewell County17.6Grayson County: 17.6 %Grayson County17.6Norfolk city: 17.4 %Norfolk city17.4Portsmouth city: 17.2 %Portsmouth city17.2Accomack County: 16.9 %Accomack County16.9Waynesboro city: 16.6 %Waynesboro city16.6Nottoway County: 16.5 %Nottoway County16.5Northampton County: 16.5 %Northampton County16.5Westmoreland County: 16.3 %Westmoreland County16.3Essex County: 16.1 %Essex County16.1Covington city: 15.8 %Covington city15.8
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Radford city35.4
2Norton city28.3
3Lee County26.2
4Harrisonburg city25.8
5Martinsville city25.4
6Buchanan County25.2
7Montgomery County24.8
8Hopewell city24
9Prince Edward County23.6
10Danville city23.1
11Charlottesville city23.1
12Lexington city22.8
13Galax city22
14Emporia city21.5
15Buena Vista city21.4
16Petersburg city21.3
17Dickenson County21.2
18Franklin city19.8
19Richmond city19.8
20Wise County19.7
21Bath County19.2
22Charlotte County19.1
23Smyth County18.9
24Russell County18.5
25Roanoke city18.4
26Mecklenburg County17.9
27Brunswick County17.8
28Bristol city17.7
29Lynchburg city17.6
29Tazewell County17.6
31Grayson County17.6
32Norfolk city17.4
33Portsmouth city17.2
34Accomack County16.9
35Waynesboro city16.6
36Nottoway County16.5
37Northampton County16.5
38Westmoreland County16.3
39Essex County16.1
40Covington city15.8
41Newport News city15.8
42Northumberland County15.6
43Williamsburg city15.5
44Scott County15.4
45Wythe County15.2
46Carroll County15.2
47Pittsylvania County15.2
48Halifax County15.1
49Henry County14.9
50Buckingham County14.8
50Surry County14.8
52Hampton city14.4
53Fredericksburg city14.3
54King and Queen County14.3
55Craig County14.2
56Lunenburg County14
57Alleghany County14
58Franklin County13.3
59Appomattox County13.3
60Winchester city13.3
61Pulaski County12.8
62Washington County12.7
63Highland County12.6
64Nelson County12.5
65Charles City County12.3
66Page County12.3
67Staunton city12.3
68Bland County11.8
69Shenandoah County11.4
70Greensville County11.4
71Orange County11.3
72Amherst County11.3
73Amelia County11.1
74Warren County10.9
75Lancaster County10.9
76Caroline County10.8
77Louisa County10.8
78Patrick County10.8
79Dinwiddie County10.5
79Sussex County10.5
81Richmond County10.3
81Rockbridge County10.3
83Giles County10.3
84Greene County10.1
85Fairfax city10.1
86Salem city10
87Middlesex County9.8
88Suffolk city9.6
89Alexandria city9.6
90Campbell County9.5
91Floyd County9.3
92Prince George County9.3
93Colonial Heights city9
94Isle of Wight County8.8
95Bedford County8.8
96Madison County8.7
97Augusta County8.4
98Henrico County8.2
99Mathews County8
100Chesapeake city8
101Virginia Beach city7.8
102King William County7.8
103Rockingham County7.6
104Gloucester County7.5
105Culpeper County7.2
106Cumberland County7.1
107Spotsylvania County7.1
108Roanoke County6.9
109Chesterfield County6.9
109James City County6.9
111Albemarle County6.9
112Southampton County6.8
113Frederick County6.7
114Botetourt County6.7
115King George County6.5
116Arlington County6.5
117Fairfax County6.1
118Rappahannock County6.1
119Fauquier County5.9
120Clarke County5.8
121Prince William County5.8
122Manassas city5.6
123Hanover County5.5
124Stafford County5.1
125York County4.9
126New Kent County4.6
127Fluvanna County4.6
128Powhatan County4.5
129Poquoson city4.4
130Manassas Park city4.4
131Goochland County4.2
132Loudoun County3.3
133Falls Church city2.5

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/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/virginia-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Radford city, with 35.4% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Falls Church city, with 2.5% in 2021.

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