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Pittsylvania County, VA

RANK #476 / 996  ·  POP 60,541  ·  VA

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.8%

Pittsylvania County's economy is holding up, but population decline raises questions about long-term trajectory.

[01] Why Pittsylvania County?

Pittsylvania County, Virginia, the largest county in the state by land area, is known for its rural landscapes and historical significance. Chatham, the county seat, offers a glimpse into the past with its historic district and the Pittsylvania County Courthouse, a National Historic Landmark. Located in south-central Virginia, the county is within reasonable driving distance of larger cultural hubs like Danville, Greensboro, and Lynchburg. Commuting within the county primarily involves driving, with an average commute time of around 27 minutes. The community provides access to outdoor recreation, including parks, walking trails, and regional attractions like Leesville Lake and Smith Mountain Lake.

Life in Pittsylvania County offers a rural setting with access to natural scenery. The public school system is recognized for its quality, with several schools receiving high ratings. The county's economy, historically rooted in agriculture, particularly tobacco, is diversifying. Recent economic developments show investment in sectors such as manufacturing, with new facilities bringing jobs to the area. There is also a focus on developing infrastructure for data centers and energy, contributing to the evolving economic landscape.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
13.9x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth

No data

Home Prices
-1.2%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
-0.3

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
14x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 13.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Pittsylvania County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
60,541
-0.48% YoY
Median Household Income
$52,619
Median Home Value
$144,100
-1.19% 12mo
Median Rent
$831
Average Annual Pay
$48,651
+3.6% YoY
Employment
12,854
+0.2% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3652
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.4%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$225,000
Days on Market
62
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.6
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.0%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
11.1%
Listings w/ Price Drops
19.8%
Building Permits (2024)
72
Single-Family Permits
72

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$76,650M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill Data Center Campus
SAC III Acquisition Co. (affiliated with Stack Infrastructure)
$73,000M Proposed
Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (Transco Pipeline Expansion)
Williams (Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co.)
$1,530M Planned
Microporous Battery Separator Manufacturing Plant
Microporous
$1,350M Planned
Avio USA Manufacturing Facility
Avio USA Inc.
$500M Planned
Walnut Solar Facility
Dominion Energy
$150M Under Construction
Maplewood Solar Facility
Dominion Energy
$120M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

Population Growth -0.5% 11 percentile
Income Growth +6.3% 11 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.8% 70 percentile
Home Price Change -1.2% 20 percentile
Price/Rent 14x 39 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pittsylvania County, VA a good place to move to?

Pittsylvania County has a Boom Town Index score of 52/100, ranking #476 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.2% and a median household income of $52,619, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Pittsylvania County affordable?

The median home value in Pittsylvania County is $144,100 with median rent at $831/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3652, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Pittsylvania County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.2%. Home values changed -1.2% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Pittsylvania County?

Yes — 2.4% of Pittsylvania County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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