Covington, VA · standard
ZIP Code 24426
Alleghany County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,329
- 17/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $55,138
- Median income Below-median income area
- $115,500
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 11.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Covington pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 21st pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 15th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 17
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 24426 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 24426 (Covington, VA) rose +22.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 177.3 in 2023 to 217.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 24426 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Covington, Alleghany County, Virginia, home to 14,329 residents across 863.2 square miles, a density of 17 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 24426 reports a modest median household income of $55,138 (36% below the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,853. The poverty rate is 15.2%, with unemployment at 2.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $115,500 (65% below the average Virginia ZIP), and median rent is $793; owner occupancy is 79.6%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 11.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.4, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Alleghany County, so 24426 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 24426
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Covington, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 24426.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
55 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
52 establishments
- Construction
Construction
31 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
31 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 21
Health care and social assistance
21 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 24426, Covington, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
14,329
Population
863.2
Area (sq mi)
17
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 24426?
45.4
Median Age
46.8%
Male
53.2%
Female
2.2%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$55,138
Median Household Income
-36% vs state ZIP avg
$31,853
Per Capita Income
15.2%
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Unemployment Rate
21.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 24426 ranks among Virginia ZIPs
Covington, VA household income vs. every Virginia ZIP code
Median household income among 804 reporting Virginia ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$55,138 23rd percentile higher than 23% of 804 Virginia ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Virginia ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
7,246housing units
7,246
Total Housing Units
6,063
Occupied Units
1,183
Vacant Units
2.26
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$115,500
Median Home Value
-65% vs state ZIP avg
$793
Median Rent
1967
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+22.8%
YoY Change (2024)
218
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+118%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 24426 have increased 22.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +118% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.9% | 150 |
| 2021 | +5.9% | 159 |
| 2022 | +8.6% | 173 |
| 2023 | +2.8% | 177 |
| 2024 | +22.8% | 218 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 304 business establishments in ZIP 24426, employing approximately 4,237 people with a combined annual payroll of $252,503,000.
304
Businesses
4,237
Employees
$252.5M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 55 | 18.1% |
| Retail trade | 52 | 17.1% |
| Construction | 31 | 10.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 31 | 10.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 21 | 6.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 20 | 6.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 17 | 5.6% |
| Manufacturing | 14 | 4.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 3.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 3.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 3.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 8 | 2.6% |
| Information | 6 | 2.0% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 24426 vs 24986 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24986 | White Sulphur Springs, WV | 5,216 | 11.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 24426, both outside VA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (14,329 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Alleghany County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 24426 in?
ZIP code 24426 (Covington) is located in Alleghany County, Virginia. Alleghany County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/alleghany-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 24426?
ZIP code 24426 in Covington, VA has a population of 14,329 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 24426?
The median household income in ZIP 24426 is $55,138, which is 28% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 24426?
The median home value in ZIP 24426 is $115,500, which is 58% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 24426?
The largest racial group in ZIP 24426 is White at 89.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 24426?
ZIP code 24426 has 304 business establishments employing approximately 4,237 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 24426?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 24426 are: Other services (except public administration) (55), Retail trade (52), Construction (31). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 24426?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 24426 increased by 22.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 118%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 24426?
In ZIP code 24426, 59.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 24426?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 24426 is 21.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 24426?
In ZIP code 24426, approximately 79.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 24426?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 24426 is 15.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 24426's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 24426 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Covington, VA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.