Buchanan County, VA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Buchanan County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,755 | 8,661,529 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 39.2 | 202.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -2.18% | 0.60% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 48.3 | 37.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 7,351 | 3,324,966 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Buchanan County declined by 15.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 19,857 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Buchanan County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Buchanan County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,203 | $91,409 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.81% | 4.62% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.2% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Buchanan County is about 54% lower than in Virginia.
Housing
| Metric | Buchanan County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $116,176 | $257,048 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $711 | $1,514 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.1% | 67.2% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Buchanan County is about 13.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $711 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Buchanan County spend about 54 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 225 hours, about 9.4 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Buchanan County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 27.0 | 23.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 54.0 | 46.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 225 | 194 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,973 | $6,010 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 16.2% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 440 | 10,059 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 191 | 1,531 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Virginia:
Lexington city (8.7 min), Norton city (11.5 min), Covington city (11.8 min).
Slowest:
Surry County (43.2 min), Amelia County (40.4 min), Buckingham County (38.3 min).
The average commute time in Buchanan County is 27 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Virginia.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Buchanan County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Buchanan County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.1% | 37.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.55 | 2.53 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Virginia:
Falls Church city (0.6), Arlington County (0.6), Alexandria city (0.5).
Lowest:
Greensville County (0.2), Lunenburg County (0.2), Buchanan County (0.2).
Health
Buchanan County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Buchanan County | Virginia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.2 | 77.3 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 23.9% | 16.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 27.5% | 19.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Virginia:
Falls Church city (0.8), Arlington County (0.8), Fairfax County (0.8).
Lowest:
Emporia city (0.7), Petersburg city (0.8), Galax city (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Buchanan County, Virginia.
What is the population of Buchanan County, Virginia?
The population of Buchanan County, Virginia is 19,755, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Buchanan County, Virginia?
The population density of Buchanan County, Virginia is 39.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Buchanan County, Virginia?
The median household income in Buchanan County, Virginia is $42,203, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Buchanan County, Virginia?
The median home price in Buchanan County, Virginia is $116,176, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Buchanan County, Virginia?
The unemployment rate in Buchanan County, Virginia is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.