Lynchburg, VA

Census place 5147672 · pop 79,497

D58/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in VA
📍 Virginia ranks #14 of 50 states →
🏆 Air28 AQI · top 5%
🚽 Own48.9% · bottom 13%
💡 Did you know?

Home of Liberty University and known as the 'City of Seven Hills.'

Source ↗
Taxes
0.79% property · US 0.99%5.77% sales · US 7.00%up to 5.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Homeownership48.9%13

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

48.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health19.4%17

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Poverty rate18.6%21

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

18.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)-1.3%22

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-1.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Median household income$57,94725

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$57,947 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.4726

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult obesity37.1%36

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

37.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Adult smoking12.9%53

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

12.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity24.4%54

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

24.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Uninsured adults9.1%54

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Broadband access92.4%57

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.4%62

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$229,80063

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$229,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Property-tax burden0.79%65

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.79% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Bachelor's degree or higher38.5%66

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

38.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Rent$1,314/mo81

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,314/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time17 min91

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

17 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level44/10091

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

44/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level28 AQI95

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

28 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Lynchburg: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Lynchburg, VA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Lynchburg scores 58/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is homeownership. Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Lynchburg, VA expensive to live in?
Lynchburg has a median home value of $229,800 and typical rent around $1,314/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Lynchburg, VA?
Its weakest measured area is homeownership (48.9%) — 13/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Lynchburg, VA best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (28 AQI) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Home of Liberty University and known as the 'City of Seven Hills.'

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.