Alleghany County, Virginia Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Alleghany County, Virginia, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Alleghany County, Virginia. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Alleghany County, Virginia. The estimated population of Alleghany County, Virginia is 15,266 people, with a median age of 48.

We can look at the total population in Alleghany County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
15,266
+1.57%
-1.44%
2020
15,030
 -0.84% -
2019
15,157
 -0.84% -
2018
15,286
 -1.31% -
2017
15,489
 - -

Population of Alleghany County, Virginia by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
91.2%
91.9%
 -0.76%
Black/African American
5.5%
5.5%
 0.00%
Native
0%
0%
 0.00%
Hispanic
1.6%
1.4%
 +14.29%
Asian
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%
Two Or More Races
1.4%
1.1%
 +27.27%
Other
0.3%
0.1%
 +200.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Alleghany County, Virginia by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 48 0% 46.1 0% 50.1 +0.2%
2020 48 -0.21% 46.1 -0.65% 50 +1.21%
2019 48.1 +1.48% 46.4 +1.09% 49.4 +1.65%
2018 47.4 +1.07% 45.9 +0.66% 48.6 +0.62%
2017 46.9 - 45.6 - 48.3 -

The median age of Alleghany County, Virginia gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 752 +5.62% 835 -23.55% 793 654
10 to 19 969 +4.76% 780 -1.49% 1,006 768
20 to 29 836 +3.12% 775 +5.4% 862 816
30 to 39 797 -11.03% 721 +13.89% 707 822
40 to 49 881 -12.2% 1,040 -27.1% 777 783
50 to 59 1,151 +4.66% 1,169 +1.75% 1,205 1,186
60 to 69 1,168 0.17% 1,259 -5.38% 1,163 1,186
70+ 1,032 +1.23% 1,324 +12.37% 1,043 1,495

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Alleghany County, Virginia is $49,705.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Alleghany County.

  • Under 25
    $29,345.00
  • 25 to 44
    $63,333.00
  • 45 to 64
    $59,500.00
  • 65 and over
    $35,250.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Alleghany County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Alleghany County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Alleghany County, Virginia is currently $64,494.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.37% of households in Alleghany County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Alleghany County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    25.98%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    24.15%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    18.06%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    12.08%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.90%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4.45%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.37%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Alleghany County is $28,423.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Alleghany County by the total population of Alleghany County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Alleghany County, Virginia, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Alleghany County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    6.51%
  • Bachelor's degree
    14.94%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    14.42%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    60.83%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.31%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Alleghany County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Alleghany County over the age of 16 is 12,720.

Of those people, a total of 51.80% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Alleghany County is 49.90%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 675 22.40% 27.20%
20 to 24 years 817 80.40% 4.10%
25 to 29 years 861 77.40% 3.20%
30 to 34 years 714 60.80% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 1,441 74.80% 6.50%
45 to 54 years 1,998 78.30% 2.60%
55 to 59 years 1,327 74.70% 0.30%
60 to 64 years 1,213 50.50% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 2,093 17.90% 1.90%
75 years and over 1,581 3.50% 7.30%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Alleghany County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 11,941 50.40% 3.00%
Black or African American 597 73.50% 7.10%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0 0.00% 0.00%
Asian 4 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 3 100.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 175 70.90% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 123 73.20% 10.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 11,826 50.10% 2.90%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Alleghany County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Alleghany County is 6,350, with median earnings of $36,667.00.

Women in Alleghany County, Virginia earning approximately 63.60% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 6,350 $36,667.00
Male 3,349 $44,595.00
Female 3,001 $28,377.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 438 $67,857.00
Business and Financial 88 $39,167.00
Computer and Mathematical 67 $68,854.00
Architecture and Engineering 133 $79,375.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 82 $54,375.00
Community and Social Service 45 $43,897.00
Legal 2 $0.00
Educational and Library 428 $40,072.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 84 $53,462.00
Healthcare Practitioners 439 $46,435.00
Healthcare Support 215 $26,458.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 125 $24,297.00
Law Enforcement 70 $46,818.00
Food Preparation and Serving 283 $13,009.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 373 $28,173.00
Personal Care and Service 208 $16,429.00
Sales 404 $17,895.00
Office and Administrative Support 693 $28,586.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 92 $21,250.00
Construction and Extraction 382 $66,250.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 215 $29,712.00
Production 854 $44,855.00
Transportation and Material Moving 202 $52,212.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 257 $82,981.00 181 $54,250.00
Business and Financial 39 $78,625.00 49 $32,232.00
Computer and Mathematical 42 $54,886.00 25 $100,417.00
Architecture and Engineering 107 $108,854.00 26 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 61 $52,734.00 21 $0.00
Community and Social Service 24 $0.00 21 $52,639.00
Legal 0 $0.00 2 $0.00
Educational and Library 57 $41,010.00 371 $33,583.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 45 $65,337.00 39 $52,969.00
Healthcare Practitioners 140 $44,328.00 299 $49,821.00
Healthcare Support 32 $0.00 183 $27,595.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 66 $35,673.00 59 $0.00
Law Enforcement 58 $46,136.00 12 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 106 $9,866.00 177 $14,861.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 190 $28,417.00 183 $24,688.00
Personal Care and Service 0 $0.00 208 $16,429.00
Sales 177 $18,487.00 227 $17,434.00
Office and Administrative Support 160 $40,227.00 533 $28,423.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 86 $12,059.00 6 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 376 $68,571.00 6 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 180 $34,853.00 35 $0.00
Production 706 $51,842.00 148 $29,405.00
Transportation and Material Moving 201 $52,260.00 1 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 6,405 households in Alleghany County, with an average household size of 2.33 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 3,842 families in Alleghany County with an average family size of 3.07 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,877 289 676 2,563
Average Household Size 3.03 3.53 3.49 1.11
Total Families 2,877 289 676 0
Average Household Size 3.03 3.12 3.25 0

Poverty

Of the 3,842 families in Alleghany County, 11.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Alleghany County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 7,948 housing units in Alleghany County, Virginia.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 6,405 80.59%
Vacant 1,543 19.41%

12.04% of the total 7,948 housing units in Alleghany County are rental units. This is approximately 957 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 5,161 are occupied by the owner - or 64.93% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Alleghany County is $606.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Alleghany County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    287
  • Less than $500
    365
  • $500 to $999
    493
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    92
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    3
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    4
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Alleghany County is $117,100.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Alleghany County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    599
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,454
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,253
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    791
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    624
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    360
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    75
  • $1,000,000 or more
    5

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Alleghany County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Alleghany County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,494
  • 1940 to 1949
    864
  • 1950 to 1959
    738
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,063
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,056
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,181
  • 1990 to 1999
    724
  • 2000 to 2009
    709
  • 2010 to 2013
    119
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Alleghany County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    443
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,013
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,828
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,121

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Alleghany County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Alleghany County that commute to work in a particular way.

24.1 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Alleghany County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    126
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    758
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    933
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,169
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,290
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    261
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    428
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    123
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    90
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    394
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    360
  • 90 or more minutes
    188

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Alleghany County, Virginia in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Alleghany County, Virginia

We have data for 12 places in Alleghany County, Virginia. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.