City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Appalachia, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Appalachia - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,612
Residents
$38,942
Median income
$65,500
Median home
$914
Median rent (state)

Appalachia - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Appalachia places in the 7th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

7th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Appalachia, VA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,612 residents in Appalachia, a small town within Virginia. Median household income here is $38,942 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 24.2%. Home values in Appalachia run a median of $65,500, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. 15.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 42.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits).

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $914 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Virginia run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 1.6 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,612 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$38,942 /yr

Poverty 24.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Appalachia compare to other US cities?

Appalachia measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Appalachia against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Virginia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Appalachia near the bottom of Virginia's cities

Among the 619 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Appalachia ranks #502 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Appalachia only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#507 of 558
9th percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#502 of 619
0th percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#558 of 567
2nd percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#47 of 616
92nd percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#459 of 618
25th percentile in Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

7thIncome percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Appalachia's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$65,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Appalachia $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Appalachia, VA Appalachia, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Appalachia, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Appalachia, VA median $38,942/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Appalachia, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Appalachia, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 24.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,612
Median Income
$38,942
Median Home Value
$65,500
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
24.2%
Labor force participation
42.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.6%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,350 residents1,400 residents1,450 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,436 residents 1,369 residents ▼ -4.7%
Appalachia's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.9%
Carpool
6.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
8.1%

Based on 491 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Appalachia sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$914/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
1.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Rural Retreat
1,614 people
Coeburn
1,606 people
Ferrum
1,622 people
Nellysford
1,623 people
Haymarket
1,591 people
Middletown
1,634 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Appalachia's 1,612 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Estell Manor, NJ
1,612 people
Malaga, NJ
1,612 people
Norris City, IL
1,613 people
Lovelock, NV
1,611 people
Stedman, NC
1,613 people
Richland, PA
1,613 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Appalachia's $38,942 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Camp Croft, SC
$38,940 median income
Lesage, WV
$38,944 median income
Mount Union, PA
$38,947 median income
Raleigh, WV
$38,950 median income
Trujillo Alto zona urbana, PR
$38,951 median income
Conetoe, NC
$38,955 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Appalachia, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Appalachia, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.7% 6.9% 10.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.7% White 82.7% Black or African American 6.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 10.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Appalachia compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Appalachia (this city) 1,612 $38,942
Rural Retreat 1,614 $60,114
Coeburn 1,606 $53,750
Ferrum 1,622 $31,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Appalachia, VA?

What is the population of Appalachia, VA? +

Appalachia, VA has a population of 1,612 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Appalachia, VA? +

Median annual household income in Appalachia runs $38,942, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Appalachia? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Appalachia; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Appalachia, VA? +

A typical home in Appalachia is worth $65,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.