County profile · Virginia
Smyth County, VA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Smyth County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 28,882
- −3.0% since 2020
- Households
- 12,659
- Median household income
- $49,883
- +21.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $139,600
- Jobs located here
- 11,597
- Highest market score
- 61
- Insurance agencies, #759 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Smyth County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Smyth County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 28,882 people live in Smyth County, in 12,659 households. Population estimates put the population change in Smyth County from 2020 to 2025 at −3.0%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Smyth County is $49,883 a year, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 21.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Smyth County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Smyth County are for insurance agencies (61); real estate businesses (59); and salons, barbers and spas (52). Smyth County ranks #759 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
For its number of households, Smyth County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (48% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Smyth County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Smyth County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 61 | #759 of 2,272 | 18 | 14.2 | $1.8M | 139 | 7 |
| Real estate | 59 | #601 of 2,229 | 15 | 11.8 | Index only | 253 | 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 52 | #1,036 of 2,385 | 31 | 24.5 | $300K | 141 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 46 | #1,069 of 1,886 | 6 | 4.7 | $2M | 199 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #1,251 of 2,176 | 12 | 9.5 | Index only | 252 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 44 | #1,429 of 2,405 | 81 | 64.0 | $473K | 128 | 48 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 43 | #1,282 of 2,087 | 11 | 8.7 | $1.8M | 143 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 42 | #1,537 of 2,401 | 37 | 29.2 | $299K | 111 | 19 |
| Hair salons | 42 | #1,541 of 2,339 | 16 | 12.6 | $581K | 135 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 41 | #1,202 of 1,769 | 6 | 4.7 | $1.5M | 177 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 41 | #1,330 of 2,063 | 7 | 5.5 | $5.5M | 148 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 41 | #1,437 of 2,210 | 17 | 13.4 | $1.2M | 133 | 6 |
| Gas stations | 41 | #1,545 of 2,358 | 20 | 15.8 | $1.8M | 77 | 15 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 41 | #1,573 of 2,405 | 44 | 34.8 | $871K | 131 | 22 |
| Pet businesses | 40 | #1,511 of 2,200 | 11 | 8.7 | $821K | 93 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 36 | #1,074 of 1,472 | 6 | 4.7 | $355K | 52 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 35 | #1,777 of 2,402 | 25 | 19.7 | $2.7M | 79 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 33 | #1,903 of 2,378 | 25 | 19.7 | $442K | 100 | 15 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 33 | #1,963 of 2,394 | 60 | 47.4 | $195K | 128 | 28 |
| Grocery stores | 32 | #1,589 of 2,070 | 9 | 7.1 | $7.5M | 80 | 5 |
| Convenience stores | 31 | #1,773 of 2,261 | 15 | 11.8 | $4.5M | 57 | 3 |
| Pizza | 28 | #1,837 of 2,090 | 11 | 8.7 | $3.5M | 69 | 23 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 26 | #1,455 of 1,656 | 8 | 6.3 | $1.5M | 82 | 16 |
| Barbershops | 25 | #1,168 of 1,356 | 5 | 3.9 | $1.9M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 21 | #1,956 of 2,088 | 11 | 8.7 | $577K | 87 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 21 | #2,034 of 2,222 | 20 | 15.8 | $1.9M | 63 | 23 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 20 | #1,254 of 1,327 | 6 | 4.7 | $1.8M | 60 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 19 | #1,366 of 1,461 | 6 | 4.7 | $1.5M | 59 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 9 | #1,755 of 1,792 | 9 | 7.1 | $705K | 54 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 4 | #1,299 of 1,302 | 8 | 6.3 | $1.5M | 47 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.9M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $3.9M | 234 | 4 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.3M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.9M | 122 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $12.8M | 308 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $1.3M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $10.1M | 414 | 7 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $5.2M | 179 | 4 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.7M | 147 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $11.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $30.2M | Too few | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $15.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $30.2M | Too few | 4 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $19.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $11.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $30.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Smyth County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.1M | $874 | 91 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $36.7M | $2,899 | 112 |
| Food away from home | $38.3M | $3,029 | 74 |
| Groceries | $67.3M | $5,317 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $9.3M | $735 | 73 |
| Child care and other personal services | $4M | $314 | 54 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $6.3M | $502 | 51 |
| Medical and dental services | $11.7M | $926 | 72 |
| Pets | $9M | $713 | 78 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $19.9M | $1,574 | 77 |
| Vehicle insurance | $31.5M | $2,490 | 127 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $30.2M | $2,386 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $15.7M | $1,241 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $164.7M | $13,011 | 78 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Smyth County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 28,882−3.0% since 2020
- Households
- 12,659
- Median age
- 45.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 451 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 65
- Median household income
- $49,883+21.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $68,477
- Median home value
- $139,600
- Jobs located here
- 11,597
- Daytime population
- 29,033Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Smyth County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Smyth County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Virginia 8
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- Washington County, VA53,926 people
- Grayson County, VA15,287 people
- Wythe County, VA28,188 people
- Russell County, VA25,538 people
- Bristol city, VA16,849 people
- Bland County, VA6,199 people
- Galax city, VA6,726 people
Questions
How fast is Smyth County, VA growing?
Population estimates put Smyth County at 28,882 people in 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 12,659 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 21.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in Smyth County, VA spend?
Households in Smyth County spend about $164.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $67.3M on groceries and $38.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Smyth County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Smyth County, VA?
Of the business types scored in Smyth County, insurance agencies (61); real estate businesses (59); and salons, barbers and spas (52) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #759 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Smyth County, VA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Smyth County is $49,883, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $139,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (48% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 30 of the 56 business types have a score in Smyth County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Smyth County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Smyth County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Smyth County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.