Highland County: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in Highland County is $65,625 (about the same as Highland County median $65,625; 1.4× below Virginia median $93,170), with homes at a median value of $200,000.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $65,625 — below the Virginia median ($92,968). Poverty rate 10.3% (U.S. average ~12.5%).
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $1,080 |
|---|---|
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $56,409 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $52,231 (vs Virginia $92,983) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Median Household Income | $65,625 (vs Virginia $92,968) |
| Poverty Rate | 10.3% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 — county FIPS · Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 14.7% — above the U.S. average of ~4%.
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 615 |
|---|---|
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $27,355,633 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $44,493 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 3,981,130 |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7% (vs Virginia 2.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 3 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 3,200 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 1,066.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Vegetable Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 76 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 345 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 11,126 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 3 |
|---|
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
| Total Snap Stores | 4 |
|---|
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $24,962,001 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 11,183.69 (vs Virginia $14,580) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 2,232 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
Sources: USAspending API