Russell County, Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Russell County, Virginia had an estimated 25,420 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 25,781, across 474 square miles. County output reached $903.7 m in 2024, 436 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 4 7(a) approvals worth $3.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Russell County
How many people live in Russell County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202425,538
- Households10,669
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$50,012
- Median age46.7
- Median gross rent$653 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$120,600
- Home value to household income2.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher13.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over18,954
- Population under 184,817
- Share under 1818.9 percent
- Population 65 and over6,033
- Share 65 and over23.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6414,688
- Civilian labor force9,547
- Unemployment rate3.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over46.1 percent
- Rank by population among Virginia counties70th of 133
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1636th of 3,222
Russell County is the 70th largest of 133 Virginia counties by population. A median home costs 2.4 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.6 percent against 18.9 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Russell County
Is Russell County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202425,420
- Census 2020 base population25,781
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.40 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-82
- Births, 2024253
- Deaths, 2024375
- Natural change, 2024-122
- Net domestic migration, 202436
- Net international migration, 20243
- Total net migration, 202439
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024317
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2327th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.40 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Russell County
Where are people moving to Russell County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving411
- People arriving, from those returns827
- Tax returns filed by households leaving380
- Net household movement31
- Adjusted gross income arriving$17.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$42,455
- Average income of a leaving household$42,729
- Largest single originTazewell County (70 households)
- Largest single destinationTazewell County (62 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tazewell County | 70 | 155 | $2.7 m |
| Washington County | 54 | 102 | $2.7 m |
| Buchanan County | 39 | 77 | $2.4 m |
| Wise County | 31 | 81 | $1.2 m |
| Sullivan County | 28 | 44 | $758,000 |
Households arriving report $274 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Tazewell County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Russell County
What is the Russell County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$903.7 m
- County GDP, 2023$869.6 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years24.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Virginia areas BEA publishes70th of 105
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1926th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$35,388
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 24.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Russell County
Employment by industry in Russell County
- Covered employment, annual average6,150
- Establishments reporting565
- Average annual pay$48,286
- Average weekly wage$929
- Retail trade, employment736
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,654
- Construction, employment516
- Construction, average annual pay$59,613
- Manufacturing, employment451
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$47,357
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment404
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$71,396
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, employment230
- Finance and insurance, employment170
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 736 | 61 | $32,654 |
| Construction | 516 | 42 | $59,613 |
| Manufacturing | 451 | 10 | $47,357 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 404 | 32 | $71,396 |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 230 | 9 | $75,150 |
| Finance and insurance | 170 | 30 | $58,346 |
| Other services, except public administration | 170 | 47 | $48,050 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 147 | 39 | $47,883 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 736 jobs, 12.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Russell County
How many businesses are in Russell County?
- Establishments, all industries436
- Employment at those establishments5,324
- Annual payroll$230.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Russell County
Building permits in Russell County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202435
- Declared construction value permitted$7.0 m
- Single family units authorized15
- Multifamily units authorized20
- Multifamily share of units57.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$200,154
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.3
Multifamily is 57.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Russell County
SBA loans in Russell County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded4
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$3.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$822,750
- Median 7(a) approval$746,500
- Largest single approval$1,450,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)38
- Jobs per approval9.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active3
- Distinct industries receiving approvals3
- Median 7(a) term210 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer50.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter2
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals50.0 percent
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Russell County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Russell County
Do SBA loans in Russell County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure2
Only 2 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Russell County
How large is Russell County?
- Land area474 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Virginia counties31st of 133
- Width, east to west34.6 mi
- Height, north to south29.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land54
- Establishments per square mile0.92
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Russell County
Flood risk in Russell County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Russell County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 510317
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Russell County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Russell County (community 510317), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Russell County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Russell County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Russell County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202425,538
- Households10,669
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$50,012
- Median age46.7
Common questions
Russell County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Russell County, Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 25,420 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 25,538, in 10,669 households, ranking 70th of 133 Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Russell County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.40 percent since the 2020 census base of 25,781, to 25,420 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 253 births against 375 deaths, with net migration of 39. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Russell County?
$50,012. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $120,600, which is 2.4 times income, and median gross rent is $653 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Russell County?
436 establishments, employing 5,324 people with an annual payroll of $230.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Russell County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 736 jobs, 12.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,150 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,286, or $929 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Russell County?
4 7(a) approvals totaling $3.3 m since FY2020, across 3 lenders, with a median approval of $746,500. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Russell County?
35 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $7.0 m. Multifamily was 57.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Russell County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Russell County come from?
The largest single origin is Tazewell County, with 70 households. Arriving households report an average income of $42,455 against $42,729 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Russell County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Russell County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Russell County
Cities and places in Russell.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Russell County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | town | 3,116 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Castlewood | CDP | 1,357 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Raven | CDP | 1,345 | None recorded | 13.3 percent here, 86.7 percent Tazewell County |
| Honaker | town | 1,188 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Paul | town | 963 | None recorded | 23.4 percent here, 76.6 percent Wise County |
| Dante | CDP | 591 | None recorded | 82.3 percent here, 17.7 percent Dickenson County |
| Cleveland | town | 369 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby