Population
28,882
2025
−3.0% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Smyth County, VA: population growth, jobs and income
Smyth County lost 251 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.9%).
Smyth County had an estimated 28,882 residents in 2025, down 3.0% (898 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Virginia as a whole (+2.8%), and the 122nd fastest growth of 133 counties in Virginia.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Smyth County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Smyth County, ranked against Virginia and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$731/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes16.1%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months92025-10/2026-09
- 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
+19
2025
0.7 per 1,000 residents
+492 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
4.3%
2025
+0.3 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
12
2025
0.4 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
$49,883
2020–24
+21.4% 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
8,169
2023
−8.0% 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 19 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 8,169 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.3% in 2025, 0.3 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 12 new homes in 2025, or 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $49,883 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +21.4% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,686th.
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Smyth County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28,882 | −251 |
| 2024 | 29,133 | −33 |
| 2023 | 29,166 | −232 |
| 2022 | 29,398 | −212 |
| 2021 | 29,610 | −170 |
| 2020 | 29,780 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Smyth County
Smyth County lost 898 people since 2020 even though 492 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 1,453, and net international migration added 60.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −275 | −1,453 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +4 | +60 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +19 | +492 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +1 | +3 | |
| Total change | −251 | −898 |
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 | 122nd of 133 | 2,686th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 94th of 133 | 1,799th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 116th of 133 | 2,704th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 122nd of 133 | 2,747th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 105th of 133 | 1,969th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 125th of 132 | 2,476th 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 Smyth 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, Smyth County's population change (−3.0%) was ahead of 1 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 5.
4 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Smyth County's $49,883 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smyth County, VA This county | 28,882 | −3.0% | 0.7 | 0.4 | $49,883 |
| Grayson County, VA | 15,230 | −0.3% | 4.5 | 2.2 | $47,730 |
| Tazewell County, VA | 38,635 | −4.4% | 0.9 | 0.4 | $47,313 |
| Washington County, VA | 53,898 | −0.0% | 2.9 | 3.5 | $64,552 |
| Wythe County, VA | 27,983 | −1.2% | 4.6 | 2.9 | $57,745 |
| Bland County, VA | 6,151 | −1.7% | 3.9 | 1.6 | $61,216 |
| Russell County, VA | 25,332 | −1.7% | 0.7 | 0.4 | $50,012 |
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 Smyth County growing?
No. Its population fell 3.0% between 2020 and 2025, about 898 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Virginia as a whole changed +2.8% over the same years. That ranks 122nd of 133 counties in Virginia for population growth.
How many people moved to Smyth County?
On net, about 19 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 Smyth County?
It averaged 4.3% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Smyth County?
About 28,882 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Smyth County?
Private employers there had 8,169 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −8.0% 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.
Smyth County data alerts
Email me when Smyth 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.