Pittsylvania County's composite score of 76.0 is 52% above the national median of 50.0, placing it solidly in the top half of U.S. counties. This strong performance reflects reliable livability across multiple dimensions.
2 / 5
Among Virginia's top performers
Pittsylvania County's 76.0 score exceeds Virginia's state average of 70.3, ranking it in the upper tier of the commonwealth's 133 counties and cities. The county demonstrates above-average livability for the state.
3 / 5
Exceptional affordability and tax efficiency
Pittsylvania County excels with a Cost Score of 83.2, offering median home values of $153,000 and monthly rents of just $856. Its Tax Score of 85.6 and effective tax rate of 0.593% provide additional fiscal advantage.
4 / 5
Income levels modest, data incomplete
Pittsylvania County's Income Score of 18.7 reflects a median household income of $54,115, notably below state and regional averages. Data on safety, health, schools, environmental risk, and water quality remain unavailable, limiting comprehensive livability assessment.
5 / 5
Ideal for retirement and remote work
Pittsylvania County attracts retirees, remote workers, and cost-conscious families who benefit from its exceptional affordability and low tax burden. With home values under $155,000 and rents under $900/month, it rewards those whose income doesn't depend on local employment.
Pittsylvania County's composite score of 76.0 is 52% above the national median of 50.0, placing it solidly in the top half of U.S. counties. This strong performance reflects reliable livability across multiple dimensions.
Among Virginia's top performers
Pittsylvania County's 76.0 score exceeds Virginia's state average of 70.3, ranking it in the upper tier of the commonwealth's 133 counties and cities. The county demonstrates above-average livability for the state.
Exceptional affordability and tax efficiency
Pittsylvania County excels with a Cost Score of 83.2, offering median home values of $153,000 and monthly rents of just $856. Its Tax Score of 85.6 and effective tax rate of 0.593% provide additional fiscal advantage.
Income levels modest, data incomplete
Pittsylvania County's Income Score of 18.7 reflects a median household income of $54,115, notably below state and regional averages. Data on safety, health, schools, environmental risk, and water quality remain unavailable, limiting comprehensive livability assessment.
Ideal for retirement and remote work
Pittsylvania County attracts retirees, remote workers, and cost-conscious families who benefit from its exceptional affordability and low tax burden. With home values under $155,000 and rents under $900/month, it rewards those whose income doesn't depend on local employment.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛85.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Pittsylvania County's effective tax rate of 0.593% sits substantially below the national average, and its median tax of just $907 represents only 34% of the national median. This makes Pittsylvania highly attractive for homeowners seeking low tax burdens.
Below average for Virginia counties
Pittsylvania's 0.593% rate falls below Virginia's 0.671% state average, positioning it among the commonwealth's more tax-friendly counties. Its median tax of $907 is less than half the state median of $1,960, delivering substantial savings to residents.
Competitive rates within the region
Pittsylvania's 0.593% rate matches closely with Patrick County's 0.581%, both undercutting Page County's 0.671% and Nottoway's 0.420%. This makes Pittsylvania a reasonably priced option in the south-central region's competitive tax landscape.
Median homes taxed under $1,000 annually
On Pittsylvania's median home value of $153,000, the 0.593% effective rate yields approximately $907 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, this may reach $960 when including additional assessments, but Pittsylvania remains one of Virginia's most affordable.
Review assessments to maximize savings
Even in tax-advantaged counties like Pittsylvania, homeowners should verify their assessed values against recent comparable sales in their neighborhoods. An appeal could reduce your tax burden further if your assessment seems excessive relative to market conditions.
Pittsylvania County's 19.0% rent-to-income ratio sits slightly above national norms, indicating solid but not exceptional affordability for renters. The county's median household income of $54,115 falls 28% below the national median, yet the $856 monthly rent keeps housing costs proportionally manageable.
Pittsylvania slightly above Virginia average
At 19.0%, Pittsylvania County's rent-to-income ratio runs just 0.4 percentage points above Virginia's 18.6% state average, placing it near the middle of the state's affordability spectrum. The county's $856 median rent costs $284 less than the state median of $1,140, reflecting South-central Virginia's lower-cost housing market.
Pittsylvania sits in the affordability middle
Pittsylvania's $856 rent ranks between Page County ($851) and Nottoway County ($1,009), while its 19.0% ratio places it slightly above the best-performing counties in this cluster. The county's moderate income base makes this a balanced choice for South-central Virginia movers.
Pittsylvania's balanced housing costs
Renters allocate $856 monthly while homeowners commit $645—making homeownership 24% cheaper than renting for qualified buyers in Pittsylvania. On a $54,115 median income, housing costs remain reasonable at 19% for renters and 14% for homeowners.
Pittsylvania offers solid middle-ground value
Pittsylvania County attracts movers seeking balanced Virginia living with affordable ownership, featuring median home values near $153,000 and manageable rents. Households earning around the county median of $54,115 will find both renting and buying financially sustainable here.
Pittsylvania County's median household income of $54,115 falls short of the national median of $74,755 by $20,640. While below the national average, the county's income level is higher than the poorest rural areas in the region.
Below Virginia's average, mid-tier county
Pittsylvania County's $54,115 median household income sits 28% below Virginia's state average of $74,957. The county's per capita income of $30,209 is also substantially below the state average of $39,155, indicating wealth concentration.
Lower-middle tier in the region
Pittsylvania County's $54,115 exceeds Patrick County ($50,938) and Petersburg ($50,741) but trails Nottoway ($62,161) and Page County ($59,396). It remains well below the prosperity of Orange County ($94,175) and Poquoson city ($120,919).
Housing costs remain reasonable
Pittsylvania County's 19.0% rent-to-income ratio keeps housing affordable, with a median home value of $153,000 accessible to most households. This moderate housing burden preserves capacity for savings and other essential expenses.
Consistent saving builds security
Pittsylvania County's stable housing costs create space for automatic savings contributions to retirement accounts or education funds. Even $50 monthly set aside consistently can grow to meaningful wealth—explore employer 401(k) matches first to maximize your benefit.
At 74.9 years, Pittsylvania's life expectancy nearly matches the U.S. average of 76.4 years, sitting just 1.5 years below. However, 23.4% of residents report poor or fair health—nearly double the national average of ~13%—suggesting high chronic disease burden despite near-average longevity. This mismatch points to quality-of-life challenges among those who survive to older ages.
Average health, high disease burden
Pittsylvania's 74.9-year life expectancy slightly trails Virginia's state average of 75.1 years, placing it in the middle tier of Virginia counties. Yet its 23.4% poor/fair health rate ranks among the state's worst, indicating that while residents live long enough, many struggle with disability and chronic conditions. This contradiction demands investigation into quality-of-life factors.
Mixed signals in Southside Virginia
Pittsylvania's 74.9-year life expectancy approximates Orange (75.2) and exceeds Patrick (72.2) by 2.7 years. But its 23.4% poor/fair health rate significantly exceeds Orange's 17.5%, suggesting worse underlying disease management despite similar longevity. Pittsylvania's high poor/fair rate places it among the worst in this county cohort, despite decent life expectancy.
Catastrophic primary care shortage
Pittsylvania has just 8 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—a crisis-level shortage that ranks among Virginia's worst. This means roughly 1,250 residents per primary care doctor, forcing long waits and delaying preventive care for chronic diseases. The 8.7% uninsured rate compounds the access crisis, and mental health provision (30 per 100K) is also sparse, leaving residents managing chronic illness without adequate support.
Get insured, find a medical home
Pittsylvania's 8.7% uninsured rate is above the state average of 7.9%—a gap that matters when primary care is so scarce. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to get Medicaid or a marketplace plan, then contact the Pittsylvania Health Department for primary care referrals. Having insurance and a consistent doctor are life-saving necessities in a county with just 8 primary care doctors per 100,000 residents.
Pittsylvania's risk significantly exceeds national average
Pittsylvania County scores 63.77 on the composite risk scale, placing it in the relatively low risk category but nearly double the national average. The county faces elevated natural hazard exposure compared to most U.S. counties, driven by substantial flood, wildfire, and tornado vulnerabilities.
Highest-risk county in Virginia's dataset
At 63.77, Pittsylvania County's score nearly doubles Virginia's state average of 33.27, ranking it among the highest-risk communities in the commonwealth. The county's elevated profile reflects multiple convergent hazard exposures across flooding, wildfire, tornadoes, and seismic activity.
Dramatically riskier than all surrounding counties
Pittsylvania County's score of 63.77 far exceeds nearby Patrick County (20.87) and Nottoway County (28.98), making it the riskiest community in its region. The county's vulnerability stands out sharply against all adjacent counties, reflecting its unique geographic exposure.
Floods, wildfires, and tornadoes threaten residents
Flood risk (77.42) and wildfire risk (44.62) represent Pittsylvania's most severe hazard exposures, significantly above state averages and reflecting the county's terrain and climate. Tornado risk (40.43) and hurricane risk (77.64) rank close behind, creating a multi-hazard environment where residents face year-round natural disaster threats.
Comprehensive coverage essential for safety
Pittsylvania County residents should prioritize federal flood insurance through NFIP, particularly those near the Bannister River and tributaries where flood risk (77.42) is critical. Verify wind coverage in homeowners policies to address tornado and hurricane threats, and ensure property-specific wildfire mitigation measures are in place for forest-adjacent homes.