Patrick County, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Patrick County is located in Virginia with a total population of 17,606. It is the 86th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Patrick County is 51.0 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 12.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Patrick County is $50,938. This is 44% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 10.8%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.0%. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $146,500. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Patrick County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Patrick County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.3% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Patrick County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.