Town · Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, town, in Montgomery County, Virginia. Blacksburg had 45,104 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 44,826 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 45,446 (±61). GEOID 5107784.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
45,104
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 44,826 · ACS 2020-2024: 45,446 ±61
Median household income
$50,182
±$7,596 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$446,300
±$18,901 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,359
±$66 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Blacksburg and what county is it in?
Blacksburg is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia. It covers 19.8 square miles of land, 2,264 residents per square mile in 2020.
Blacksburg is in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Blacksburg, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 45,104 people lived in Blacksburg on July 1, 2025, up 0.6% since 2020, slower than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 44,826 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 45,446 (±61).
| Measure | Blacksburg | Montgomery County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 45,446 ±61 | 99,101 | +1,143 |
| Households | 13,840 ±575 | 36,961 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.54 ±0.10 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 17,028 ±490 | 42,794 | +1,503 |
Blacksburg's population since 2000
From 39,573 in 2000 to 45,104 in 2025: up 14.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Blacksburg as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Blacksburg?
The median resident of Blacksburg is 21.9 years old; 9.8% are under 18 and 7.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.0%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 11.4%. 14.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Blacksburg | Montgomery County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.9 ±0.2 | 30.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 9.8% ±0.9 pts | 15.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 7.6% ±0.7 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Male | 54.8% ±1.0 pts | 51.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.9% ±0.7 pts | 4.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 75.0% ±1.3 pts | 80.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±0.6 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 11.4% ±0.9 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±0.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.6% ±1.9 pts | 9.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 17.0% ±1.8 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.9% ±0.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| With a disability | 6.4% ±1.2 pts | 10.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.3% ±1.2 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.0% ±1.1 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 69.2% ±3.3 pts | 48.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 40.4% ±3.1 pts | 26.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 66.0% ±2.6 pts | 78.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 7.4% ±1.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Blacksburg earn?
Half of Blacksburg's 13,840 households earn less than $50,182 a year (±$7,596), against $72,715 in Montgomery County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $53,133 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 42.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Blacksburg | Montgomery County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,182 ±$7,596 | $72,715 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $98,277 ±$7,469 | $99,780 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,899 ±$2,435 | $38,426 | +$3,305 |
| People below the poverty line | 42.7% ±2.6 pts | 23.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.9% ±6.5 pts | 14.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.6% ±1.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.0% ±1.1 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.6% ±1.5 pts | 91.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Blacksburg?
Owners occupy 35.8% of Blacksburg's occupied homes and renters 64.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $446,300 by its owner (±$18,901). The median renter pays $1,359 a month including utilities, and 56.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Blacksburg | Montgomery County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $446,300 ±$18,901 | $304,600 | +$79,061 |
| Median gross rent | $1,359 ±$66 | $1,240 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 56.9% ±4.6 pts | 45.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,072 ±$191 | $1,690 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 35.8% ±2.7 pts | 55.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 64.2% ±2.7 pts | 44.7% | – |
| Housing units | 17,028 ±490 | 42,794 | +1,503 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5% ±2.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.0% ±2.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 37.4% ±2.4 pts | 53.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.9% ±0.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.5% ±0.9 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.3% ±2.5 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.0% ±0.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.4% ±1.8 pts | 6.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Blacksburg building?
Builders took permits for 29 new housing units in Blacksburg in 2025 (29 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Blacksburg work and get to work?
51.0% of Blacksburg's workers drive alone and 18.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.
| Measure | Blacksburg | Montgomery County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 50.8% ±2.0 pts | 57.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% ±0.8 pts | 2.9% | −2.0 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 51.0% ±3.5 pts | 68.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.0% ±1.7 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 6.2% ±1.7 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Walked | 11.8% ±1.5 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.2% ±2.6 pts | 14.0% | +10.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.8 min ±0.9 | 18.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Blacksburg?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Blacksburg, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $29,503 (Tract 203.01) to $139,727 (Tract 203.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 201Montgomery County | 9,270 | not published |
| Tract 206Montgomery County | 6,442 | $82,379 |
| Tract 205Montgomery County | 6,668 | $102,904 |
| Tract 202.01Montgomery County | 5,713 | $33,214 |
| Tract 204.02Montgomery County | 4,382 | $39,773 |
| Tract 203.01Montgomery County | 3,478 | $29,503 |
| Tract 203.02Montgomery County | 4,239 | $139,727 |
| Tract 207.01Montgomery County | 2,776 | $55,870 |
| Tract 204.01Montgomery County | 2,537 | $15,304 |
| Tract 207.02Montgomery County | 3,601 | $40,455 |
| Tract 202.02Montgomery County | 2,983 | $49,858 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Blacksburg) · Census block assignment files
How does Blacksburg compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Blacksburg is the 922nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 14th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Blacksburg ranks 323rd of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 14th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 67th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 129th | 374 |
| Median household income | 323rd | 365 |
| Per capita income | 279th | 374 |
| Median home value | 130th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 178th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 3rd | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45th | 359 |
| Median age | 365th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 356th | 368 |
| Work from home | 140th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 365th | 372 |
Blacksburg's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Blacksburg with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Blacksburg?
4 of the 57 figures for Blacksburg on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Blacksburg are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Blacksburg.