Virginia Income Statistics
Virginia Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Virginia Around averageWealthier than 82% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Virginia
- Falls Church city (149% of U.S. avg)
- Arlington County (148% of U.S. avg)
- Loudoun County (145% of U.S. avg)
- Lexington city (61% of U.S. avg)
- Radford city (68% of U.S. avg)
- Emporia city (69% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Virginia | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $93,527 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $68,139 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 18.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 17.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Virginia is about 16% higher than in US. Income has been growing slower in Virginia (4.3%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 18% of adults in Virginia earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Virginia grew by 55.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $93,527 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Virginia
| Metric | Virginia | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.544 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $78,585 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $62,626 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Virginia, it is 0.544, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $558,565 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Virginia has narrowed from about 23% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 20% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,806 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Virginia | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 18.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 190,482 people are unemployed in Virginia.
The average commute time in Virginia is 23 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Virginia has fallen from 6.3% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.0% in 2013.
Virginia Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Virginia is the 3rd largest of the 6 states compared here, 8,702,460 residents against a local median of 6,204,886. Where Virginia breaks from the states next to it is unemployment, sitting 21% below the local median of 5.2% at 4.1%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $93,527 against a local median of $78,249, 20% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Virginia is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The states themselves spread 1.7% on unemployment, so Virginia sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Virginia has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 8,702,460 | $93,527 #3/6 | 4.3%/yr #4/6 | 4.1% #1/6 | 0.544 #4/6 |
| North Carolina | 10,724,323 | $72,438 | 5.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.547 |
| District of Columbia | 678,314 | $110,571 | 5.3%/yr | 6.3% | 0.501 |
| West Virginia | 1,778,099 | $59,640 | 4.3%/yr | 5.4% | 0.554 |
| Maryland | 6,204,886 | $103,916 | 4.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.534 |
| Pennsylvania | 13,004,688 | $78,249 | 4.4%/yr | 5.2% | 0.537 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Virginia.
How Rich Is Virginia?
Virginia has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $93,527, about 16% higher than the US average of $80,455.
How has median household income changed in Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Virginia rose 55%, from $60,344 to $93,527. Over the same years, income here lagged behind the U.S. as a whole: +55% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Virginia in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Virginia was $91,420, up 4% from $87,910 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Virginia in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Virginia was $76,624. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $93,527.
Do many residents of Virginia earn over $100,000?
Yes. 18% of adults in Virginia earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 14% (about 1 in 7) in the U.S.. 18% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 13% in the U.S..
Is unemployment high in Virginia?
Unemployment in Virginia is only 4.1%, well below the US rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Virginia is 0.544. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Virginia has narrowed from about 23% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 20% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,806 since 2009.
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