Scott County, Virginia Demographics 2026
Scott County, Virginia has a population of 21,504, the 79th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $45,136 and the median home value is $122,300. The poverty rate is 18.0%.
Scott County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 60 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Scott County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gate City | 1,939 | $37,188 | 15.4% | $158,400 |
| Weber City | 1,478 | $49,028 | 19.5% | $142,600 |
| Hiltons | 403 | $43,472 | 5.7% | $115,500 |
| Nickelsville | 397 | $37,857 | 17.9% | $187,500 |
| Dungannon | 278 | N/A | 50.8% | $78,500 |
| Duffield | 65 | $55,417 | 1.5% | $110,000 |
| Clinchport | 61 | $43,333 | 32.8% | N/A |
Explore Virginia Rankings
Population Overview
Scott County is located in Virginia with a total population of 21,504. It is the 79th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Scott County is 47.6 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 11.0% 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 Scott County is $45,136. This is 50% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 18.0%. This is 81% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $122,300. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Scott County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Scott County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.9% 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 (1.4%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.
Education
14.2% 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 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 84.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Scott 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Scott County, Virginia?
Scott County has a population of 21,504, making it the 79th most populous county in Virginia.
What is the median income in Scott County?
The median household income in Scott County is $45,136 with a poverty rate of 18.0%.
How many cities are in Scott County, Virginia?
Scott County contains 7 Census-designated places.