Wythe County, Virginia Demographics 2026
Wythe County, Virginia has a population of 28,219, the 62nd most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $55,359 and the median home value is $172,100. The poverty rate is 15.6%.
Wythe 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 Wythe County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wytheville | 8,224 | $43,283 | 22.0% | $193,000 |
| Rural Retreat | 1,614 | $60,114 | 20.4% | $167,900 |
| Fort Chiswell | 770 | $85,147 | 4.9% | $191,700 |
| Ivanhoe | 711 | $37,313 | 54.1% | $87,700 |
| Max Meadows | 582 | $78,365 | 12.7% | $93,600 |
Explore Virginia Rankings
Population Overview
Wythe County is located in Virginia with a total population of 28,219. It is the 62nd most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wythe County is 45.9 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wythe County is $55,359. This is 39% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 15.6%. This is 57% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $172,100. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 76.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Wythe County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (93.2% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.
Education
19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 89.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Wythe 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 Wythe County, Virginia?
Wythe County has a population of 28,219, making it the 62nd most populous county in Virginia.
What is the median income in Wythe County?
The median household income in Wythe County is $55,359 with a poverty rate of 15.6%.
How many cities are in Wythe County, Virginia?
Wythe County contains 5 Census-designated places.