14 / 100

Pittsylvania County, VA

Westover

RANK #846 / 996 NAT  ·  #30 / 37 VA  ·  POP 60,541

1YR FORECAST: +0.7%

5YR OUTLOOK: +14%

#12 Most Overvalued
Our model projects Pittsylvania County's housing market at +0.7% over the next year, underperforming most U.S. counties.

[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

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] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Microporous Manufacturing
    1,000+
  2. 2
    Pittsylvania County School Board Education
  3. 3
    Avio Manufacturing
  4. 4
    Tyson Farms Manufacturing
  5. 5
    Pittsylvania County Board Government
    500+
  6. 6
    Unique Industries Manufacturing
    250+
  7. 7
    Intertape Polymer Corp. Manufacturing
  8. 8
    Green Rock Correctional Center Government
  9. 9
    Hughes Center Healthcare

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[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
Bachelor's Degree+
15.0%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

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] Crime & Safety

C+
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
5.9
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
21.9
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
116.2
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Near national avg
based on homicide rate

Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →

[06] Air Quality

A
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
3.0
Good
Good Air Days
100%
698 of 698 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
0
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Ground-level ozone
Yearly Trend
2021
3
2022
3
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2022). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] 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.

[08] 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.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

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

The data is not encouraging — Pittsylvania County scores just 14/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #846 of 996 counties. Job growth at +0.2% and median household income of $52,619 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.

Is Pittsylvania County affordable?

By national standards, Pittsylvania County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $144,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $831/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.

Is Pittsylvania County growing or shrinking?

Population and employment in Pittsylvania County are both close to flat — population -0.5% YoY and jobs +0.2%. Home values shifted -1.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.

Are people moving to Pittsylvania County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.4% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Pittsylvania County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Montgomery County, VA 16 Albemarle County, VA 16 York County, VA 17 Suffolk city, VA 17 Stafford County, VA 10 Roanoke County, VA 19 Troup County, GA 14 Carson City, NV 15