Population
21,642
2025
−2.1% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Lee County, VA: population growth, jobs and income
Lee County lost 135 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.6%).
Lee County had an estimated 21,642 residents in 2025, down 2.1% (468 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Virginia as a whole (+2.8%), and the 117th fastest growth of 133 counties in Virginia.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Lee County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Lee County, ranked against Virginia and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$738/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes21.4%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months372025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+49
2025
2.3 per 1,000 residents
+548 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
2025
+0.2 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
16
2025
0.7 per 1,000 residents
Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$41,827
2020–24
+19.5% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
2,329
2023
−5.0% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 49 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 2,329 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.4% in 2025, 0.2 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 16 new homes in 2025, or 0.7 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $41,827 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +19.5% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,485th.
Get Lee County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Lee County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Lee County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21,642 | −135 |
| 2024 | 21,777 | +4 |
| 2023 | 21,773 | −80 |
| 2022 | 21,853 | −163 |
| 2021 | 22,016 | −94 |
| 2020 | 22,110 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Lee County
Lee County lost 468 people since 2020 even though 548 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 1,048, and net international migration added 34.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −192 | −1,048 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +6 | +34 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +49 | +548 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +2 | −2 | |
| Total change | −135 | −468 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Virginia | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 117th of 133 | 2,485th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 83rd of 133 | 1,515th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 106th of 133 | 2,466th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 131st of 133 | 3,000th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 108th of 133 | 2,069th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 115th of 132 | 2,254th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Lee County, VA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Lee County's population change (−2.1%) was ahead of 3 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 3.
3 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Lee County's $41,827 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, VA This county | 21,642 | −2.1% | 2.3 | 0.7 | $41,827 |
| Harlan County, KY | 24,725 | −7.6% | −4.8 | 0.0 | $41,693 |
| Hancock County, TN | 7,075 | +6.7% | 11.3 | 0.3 | $34,960 |
| Scott County, VA | 21,200 | −1.8% | 1.6 | 1.5 | $46,349 |
| Wise County, VA | 34,824 | −3.5% | 0.1 | 1.3 | $52,943 |
| Bell County, KY | 22,829 | −4.8% | 1.9 | 1.8 | $31,354 |
| Claiborne County, TN | 33,229 | +3.6% | 13.4 | 2.9 | $49,379 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Lee County growing?
No. Its population fell 2.1% between 2020 and 2025, about 468 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Virginia as a whole changed +2.8% over the same years. That ranks 117th of 133 counties in Virginia for population growth.
How many people moved to Lee County?
On net, about 49 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Lee County?
It averaged 4.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Lee County?
About 21,642 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Lee County?
Private employers there had 2,329 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Virginia
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Virginia county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Lee County data alerts
Email me when Lee County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.