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Emporia city
Virginia

6K

Population

$41K

Median Income

$153K

Median Home

D+36

Politics

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What stands out

What stands out about Emporia city: life expectancy is among the shortest in America (67.3 years), homeownership is among the lowest in America (40%), and the share working from home is in the bottom 4% of American counties (2%). Within Virginia it ranks 4th of 133 counties for life expectancy, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Emporia city, Virginia. 5,680 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 1.3% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -36).

Virginia has a graduated income tax with a 5.75% top rate that begins at just $17,000 of income, so most residents pay near the top rate. It does not tax Social Security and allows an age deduction of up to $12,000 for residents 65 and over. Northern Virginia's federal and defense economy produces incomes closer to the Washington suburbs of Maryland than to the rest of the state. Localities levy annual property tax on vehicles.

Money

The typical household here brings in $41,442 a year, lower than 92% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $41,303. Unemployment runs 4.7%, higher than 85% of American counties. 2% of workers work from home.

Virginia takes 5.1% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,125 a year.

Home

The median home costs $156K, cheaper than 82% of American counties, about 2.4 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $782 a month. Property tax is 0.76% of home value, roughly $981 a year on that median home, lower than 59% of American counties. 40% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 5.0 per 1,000 residents, higher than 96% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 67.3 years, shorter than almost every county in America. There are 0 active physicians in the county, about 0.0 per 10,000 people; the nearest doctor is in another county. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.0 of 5 stars. 9.5% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

77% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 36 points. 65% of eligible voters turned out. Under Virginia law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is legal with limits, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 59°F, highs near 70 and lows near 48, warmer than 65% of American counties. About 50 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 13 out of 100, safer than 87% of American counties; the county has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 208 Mbps down, faster than 54% of American counties. There are 0 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.5 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$41K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate22.2%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate4.7%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
Federal Spending per Capita$799
Median Individual Earnings$35K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers21.3%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$42K
Avg Credit Score627
Work From Home %2.2%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1826.6%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households34.2%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms7
Income (20th Percentile)$19K
Income (80th Percentile)$90K
Income (95th Percentile)$164K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher16.5%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School23.1%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Dependency Ratio0.80
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$63K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$34K
Public Assistance Recipients13.6%
Average Annual Wage$41K
Professional Services Concentration0.55x national
This county
1.0 = national average share
Federal Government Jobs Located Here4
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here0.1%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government6.3%
Federal Contract Dollars Performed Here (FY2025)$2M
Contract Dollars Relative to Local Wages0.01x wages
Largest Award's Share of Contract Dollars75%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$153K
This county
$390K state avg
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$960/mo
This county
$1700/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.76%
This county
0.74% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $981

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$1,001/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+5.5%−+10.9% since 2021
Home Value to Income Ratio2.4x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households14.7%
Homeownership Rate40.0%
This county
national avg ~65%

Health

Life Expectancy67.3 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Hospital Rating4.0 / 5
This county
national avg 3.0 stars
Food Insecurity12.3%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index8.1 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score17
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score18
Dental Care Shortage Score9
Healthcare Shortage Score14.7
Healthcare Offices30
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)44.9%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)19.3%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)28.1%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)34.7%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)42.1%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians0
Nursing Home Rating2.5 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients1042 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$15,484
Uninsured (under 65)9.5%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression22.1%

Education

HS Diploma Holders1,084
Bachelor's Degree Holders367
HS Completion Rate76.9%
This county
national avg ~85%

Safety

Violent Crime Rate5.0 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Traffic Fatalities1
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)92th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)0.0 / 100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale-0.8
January Sunshine0.68
January Temperature0.57
Average Temp59°F-0.8% since 2022
Avg High Temp70°F-1.7% since 2022
Avg Low Temp48°F+0.2% since 2022
Annual Precipitation49.5 in/yr+23% since 2022
Avg Storm Events1.6 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$20K
Drought Index (2022)-0.78
Heating Degree Days3,479 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,609 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)3,842 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,361 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.2
Avg Flood Events / Year0.2
Avg Hail Events / Year0.0
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)13 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)65 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations15 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)6.4 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)7 properties
FAA-Registered Airports1 total
Airports (excl. heliports)0 airports

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed208 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed23 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)210 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)202 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)12 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)40 ms
Households with 100Mbps+97.2%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet14.3%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)38 Mbps

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers47 workers
Public Transit Commuters4 workers
Walk to Work (workers)85 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)16 workers
Walk to Work3.9%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden37.3%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers8.5 per 10K residents

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout65.0%
This county
national avg ~55%
Income Inequality (Gini)4.741
Veterans Share6.9%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults33.6%
Never-Married Adults41.3%
Divorced Adults16.3%
Religious Organizations13
Asian Population0.8%
Membership Associations22.9 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants1.52 per 1K residents
Nursing & Care Facilities5
Grocery Stores7
Hotels & Lodging7
Recreation Businesses5
Professional Services Firms13
Real Estate Firms8
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$47K
Avg Student Loan Balance$13K
Avg Credit Card Balance$4K
Loan Delinquency Rate64.2%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.07%

Politics

D+36

2024 Presidential · Virginia was D+3 statewide

vs Virginia State

Income tax
5.75%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.76%0.74% state avg
Politics
D+36D+3
COL Index
102state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↓ -36

More people leaving than arriving

IRS Wealth Migration

Lower-income migration pattern (IRS: 0.71x avg income)

Economic Mobility

32%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Emporia city County

Median home value: $156K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Full Virginia profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

View Virginia →

Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable