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City · 7,853 residents · Halifax County, Virginia

South Boston , Virginia

In South Boston, a typical home is worth $171,200 and typical rent is $760 a month. Compared with all of Halifax County, typical household income is 15% lower, the typical home value is 10% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 24 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $171,200

    10% above the county

    55% below Virginia

    • South Boston
    • Halifax
    • Virginia

  • Typical rent

    $760a month

    4% below the county

    52% below Virginia

    • South Boston
    • Halifax
    • Virginia

  • Typical household income

    $44,052a year

    15% below the county

    53% below Virginia

    • South Boston
    • Halifax
    • Virginia

  • Households that own their home

    51%

    24 points below the county

    17 points below Virginia

    • South Boston
    • Halifax
    • Virginia

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$152,426
6.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

South Boston is in Halifax County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Halifax County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets South Boston apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. South Boston has the 4th lowest typical household income of the 160 cities in Virginia with more than 5,000 people ($44,052).

  2. 51% of households in South Boston own their home, against 75% in Halifax County.

  3. South Boston has the 5th lowest typical rent of the 157 cities in Virginia with more than 5,000 people ($760).

  4. South Boston has the 5th lowest typical home value of the 157 cities in Virginia with more than 5,000 people ($171,200).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in South Boston rose 6.3%; in Virginia, it rose 2.1%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in South Boston

What homes there are in South Boston, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In South Boston, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Halifax County, 7.

Year built

In South Boston, half of the homes were built before 1969; in Halifax County, before 1974.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 98% of owner-occupied homes in South Boston are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Halifax County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in South Boston cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($943): about 70%.

With a mortgage

$1,028 a month

Halifax County: $1,138 a month

Without a mortgage

$415 a month

Halifax County: $372 a month

Owners with a mortgage

41%

Halifax County: 43%

Owning costs less in South Boston: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,028 a month; in Halifax County, $1,138. Without one, $415.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in South Boston rose 29%; in Halifax County, it rose 34%.

The typical rent in South Boston rose 13% over the same time; in Halifax County, it rose 18%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSouth BostonHalifax CountyVirginiaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.1%3.4%
People per household 2.382.412.522.53
Drive alone 83%78%68%69%
Carpool 11%12%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate7%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Halifax County, a household in South Boston has 2.38 people on average.

The car rules in South Boston: 83% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in South Boston?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in South Boston, worth $171,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in South Boston, which is $44,052 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $57,980 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Halifax County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in South Boston. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,992 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,353

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$168,099
Total interest
$241,855
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,891 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,028 a month

  • Tight

    $1,028 to $1,322 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,322 a month

    Your payment · 37%

Compared with the typical household income in South Boston ($44,052 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,353
Principal & interest$1,139
Property tax$67
Home insurance$71
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$76

You need at least $5,992 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

South Boston and Halifax County

South Boston is in Halifax County, Virginia. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

South Boston's own numbers

Typical home value
$171,200
Typical monthly rent
$760
Typical yearly household income
$44,052
Households that own their home
51%
Effective property tax rate
0.47%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Halifax County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$943
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Halifax County.

Everything about Halifax County

Buying

Buying a home in South Boston

A typical home in South Boston is worth $171,200: 10% above the county and 55% below Virginia. With the typical household income in South Boston ($44,052 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • South Boston 3.9 years
  • Halifax 3.0 years
  • Virginia 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Halifax County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Halifax County rose 70% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Halifax County.

Period County Virginia U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.8% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +70% +75% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

South Boston next to Halifax County, Virginia and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • South Boston $171,200
  • Halifax $155,700
  • Virginia $383,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • South Boston $760
  • Halifax $790
  • Virginia $1,579
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • South Boston $44,052
  • Halifax $52,013
  • Virginia $93,170
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
South Boston next to Halifax County and Virginia
Measure South Boston Halifax County Virginia U.S.
Typical home value $171,200 $155,700 $383,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $760 $790 $1,579 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $44,052 $52,013 $93,170 $80,734
Households that own their home 51% 75% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $809 $721 $2,790 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.47% 0.46% 0.73% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 53% 50% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Halifax County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in South Boston

For a typical $171,200 home in South Boston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, South Boston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,353a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,992
    Cash to close
    $11,128
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $76

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,321a month

    Down payment
    $8,560
    Cash to close
    $13,696
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $81

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,066a month

    Down payment
    $34,240
    Cash to close
    $39,376
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,224a month

    Down payment
    $25,680
    Cash to close
    $30,816
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for South Boston and for Halifax County.

Property tax

Effective rate in South Boston

0.47%of the home’s value each year

$809 a year for the typical owner in South Boston.

  • South Boston 0.47%
  • Halifax 0.46%
  • Virginia 0.73%

What Virginia publishes Local exemption or deferral for people 65 and older or with disabilities (Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia))

Exemptions and deadlines in Virginia

Flood risk in Halifax County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Halifax County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.5%
79
Of those, with NFIP insurance
8.9%
County Virginia U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.5% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 8.9% 100% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in South Boston

Typical rent in South Boston is $760 a month: 4% below the county. In South Boston, 53% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Halifax County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($943 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.13 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Halifax County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $799 $15.37 $31,960
1 bedroom $814 $15.65 $32,560
2 bedrooms $943 $18.13 $37,720
3 bedrooms $1,230 $23.65 $49,200
4 bedrooms $1,486 $28.58 $59,440

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in South Boston

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). South Boston is in ZIP code 24592.

For 2 bedrooms it is $940: $3 less than the fair market rent for Halifax County ($943).

  • 24592 $940$1,230

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for South Boston when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in South Boston

HUD lists 10 buildings with rents for lower incomes in South Boston. These are the largest.

  • Willow Oaks 340 Poplar ST, South Boston 24592 72 low-income homes · In service since 2014 · For families
  • Willow Oaks 300 Poplar Creek St, South Boston 24592 72 low-income homes · For families (434) 572-9266
  • Westside Village Apartments 2150 Sinai Rd, South Boston 24592 70 low-income homes · For families (804) 572-2093
  • Honeytree 2313 Hamilton Blvd, South Boston 24592 48 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 40 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Taylor Lofts 340 Ferry St, South Boston 24592 47 low-income homes · In service since 2009 · For families

See all 10 buildings in Halifax County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in South Boston

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Halifax County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in South Boston

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for South Boston or Halifax County. The ones below are statewide in Virginia: they work in South Boston the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Virginia

  • Down Payment Assistance Grant

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia state agency down payment grant that you do not repay; for first-time buyers, or any buyer in economic opportunity zones, with a Virginia Housing mortgage. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

  • Virginia Housing Plus Second Mortgage

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia Housing 30-year fixed-rate second mortgage of up to 5% of the price for the down payment (and part of the closing costs with a credit score of 680 or higher); for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Closing Cost Assistance Grant

    Statewide in Virginia

    Virginia Housing grant that you do not repay, of up to 2% of the price, for the closing costs of buyers with a Virginia Housing RD (Rural Development) or VA loan. Offered by Virginia Housing (Virginia Housing Development Authority).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near South Boston

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of South Boston, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Southside Outreach Group, Inc.

    1425 Seymour Dr, South Boston · 1 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 2 more
    (434) 572-9556

  • Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority

    135 Jones Xing, Danville · 28 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 6 more
    (434) 792-5544

  • Telamon Corporation - Danville Branch

    625 Piney Forest Rd, Danville · 28 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (434) 421-6491

Every agency in Halifax County All counseling agencies in Virginia

Help in Spanish near South Boston

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of South Boston

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Halifax County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Virginia Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to South Boston, with the typical home value.

Everything about Halifax County Housing in Virginia

Neighboring counties

If Halifax County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in South Boston.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about South Boston

Short answers with the numbers for South Boston and all of Halifax County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in South Boston?

The typical home value in South Boston is $171,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Halifax County it is $155,700.

How much does it cost to rent in South Boston?

Typical rent in South Boston is $760 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Halifax County is $943.

What is the FHA loan limit in South Boston?

South Boston uses the FHA limit for all of Halifax County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in South Boston?

The typical homeowner in South Boston pays $809 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.47% of the home’s value; in Halifax County, the rate is 0.46%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in South Boston?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Halifax County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).