Russell County, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Russell County is located in Virginia with a total population of 25,635. It is the 68th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Russell County is 46.5 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Russell County is $49,020. This is 46% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.1%. This is 83% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $119,600. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Russell County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Russell County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.8% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.8% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

14.1% 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 66% 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 83.4%.