Pennington Gap, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Pennington Gap, Virginia Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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Lowest IncomeAmong the lowest median incomes in Virginia

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 56.8% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Pennington Gap, Virginia had a total population of 1,798, the 295th largest town in Virginia, with a median household income of $21,633, which is 77% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 56.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 77% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (56.8%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Unemployment rate of 22.4% is notably above the national average.

Pennington Gap Quick Facts

Population 1,798

Median Household Income $21,633

Median Home Value $92,900

Poverty Rate 56.8%

Unemployment Rate 22.4%

Median Age 34.3 years

Homeownership Rate 43.4%

Affordability Ratio 4.3x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.4%

High School Graduation Rate 74.0%

Diversity Index 9/100

Population 1,798 295th of 681

Median Income $21,633 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 56.8% 356% higher than national

Median Home Value $92,900 bottom 10%

How Pennington Gap Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	2,020	1,798	-11.0%
Median household income	$22,857	$21,633	-5.4%
Median home value	$86,900	$92,900	+6.9%

How Pennington Gap Compares

Median Household Income

Pennington Gap

$21,633

$93,170

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Pennington Gap

$92,900

$383,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 54.1%

$25K-$50K 21.9%

$50K-$100K 18.3%

$100K+ 5.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

19.2%

$10K-$15K

16.1%

$15K-$20K

10.0%

$20K-$25K

8.8%

$25K-$30K

5.9%

$30K-$35K

6.5%

$35K-$40K

3.1%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

1.9%

$50K-$60K

5.3%

$60K-$75K

5.0%

$75K-$100K

8.1%

$100K-$125K

4.5%

$125K-$150K

0.0%

$150K-$200K

0.4%

$200K+

0.7%

Employment

22.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%

32.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 43.4%

Renter 56.6%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $766/mo 42.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

32.5%

18-34

18.4%

35-54

20.8%

55-74

18.9%

75+

9.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Pennington Gap Rankings in Virginia

#295 Population of 681

#578 Median Income of 585

#517 Education of 680

#556 Home Value of 580

Explore Virginia Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Lee County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Jonesville	1,308	$18,421	57.9%	$115,400
Dryden	823	$55,156	30.4%	$130,300
Rose Hill (Lee County)	447	N/A	39.8%	N/A
Ewing	365	$60,792	14.8%	N/A
Keokee	174	N/A	6.9%	$65,800
Stickleyville	143	N/A	32.2%	$130,100
St. Charles	83	$24,338	65.1%	$9,999

Cities Similar to Pennington Gap

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Camp Barrett	1,681	N/A	N/A	54.8%	N/A
Shawsville	1,411	N/A	$101,600	15.3%	17.4%
Exmore	1,571	$29,028	$152,400	10.1%	28.9%
Ferrum	1,774	$40,435	$188,900	29.1%	37.1%
Boswell's Corner	1,239	N/A	N/A	17.8%	3.9%

Population Overview

Pennington Gap is a small community located in Virginia, within Lee County. The total population is 1,798. It ranks as the 295th most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pennington Gap is 34.3 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 32.5% of the population under 18, Pennington Gap has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Pennington Gap is $21,633. This is 77% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 73% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 56.8%. This is 474% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 22.4%. This is 425% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $92,900. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 43.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pennington Gap has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.2% vs 58.4%). The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 18.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 11.0%.

Education

14.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 42.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 74.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Pennington Gap, Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 681 Census-designated places in Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Pennington Gap, Virginia?

Pennington Gap, Virginia has a population of 1,798 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Pennington Gap, VA?

The median household income in Pennington Gap is $21,633, which is 73% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Pennington Gap, VA?

The poverty rate in Pennington Gap is 56.8%. This means approximately 951 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Pennington Gap, Virginia?

Pennington Gap's population is 95.2% White, 1.6% Black, 0.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Pennington Gap, VA?

The median home value in Pennington Gap is $92,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x.

How educated is Pennington Gap, Virginia?

14.4% of adults (25+) in Pennington Gap hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.