Town · Virginia
Bluefield, Virginia
Bluefield, town, in Tazewell County, Virginia. Bluefield had 4,839 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,096 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,979 (±18). GEOID 5108152.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,839
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,096 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,979 ±18
Median household income
$54,041
±$15,011 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$152,500
±$27,240 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$870
±$80 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Bluefield and what county is it in?
Bluefield is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia. It covers 9.5 square miles of land, 537 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bluefield is in the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 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 Bluefield, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,839 people lived in Bluefield on July 1, 2025, down 4.9% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 5,096 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,979 (±18).
| Measure | Bluefield | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,979 ±18 | 39,624 | +72 |
| Households | 2,037 ±197 | 16,290 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.29 ±0.23 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,197 ±201 | 19,768 | no clear change |
Bluefield's population since 2000
From 5,078 in 2000 to 4,839 in 2025: down 4.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bluefield 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 Bluefield?
The median resident of Bluefield is 42.2 years old; 20.8% are under 18 and 25.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 5.5%. 3.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bluefield | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 ±10.0 | 45.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.8% ±3.4 pts | 20.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.2% ±4.7 pts | 23.8% | – |
| Male | 50.2% ±4.3 pts | 50.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.5% ±1.9 pts | 1.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.5% ±3.7 pts | 92.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±1.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±1.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.9% ±2.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.1% ±2.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.6% ±3.3 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 19.0% ±5.2 pts | 20.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.1% ±1.6 pts | 4.1% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.1% ±5.6 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.8% ±7.0 pts | 16.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.6% ±4.8 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.7% ±3.5 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
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 Bluefield earn?
Half of Bluefield's 2,037 households earn less than $54,041 a year (±$15,011), against $47,313 in Tazewell County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $56,150 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bluefield | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,041 ±$15,011 | $47,313 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $83,832 ±$18,257 | $69,710 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,791 ±$7,030 | $29,519 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.6% ±6.8 pts | 18.5% | +7.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.8% ±14.2 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.0% ±7.8 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.1% ±2.8 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.7% ±7.6 pts | 85.4% | – |
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 Bluefield?
Owners occupy 64.2% of Bluefield's occupied homes and renters 35.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $152,500 by its owner (±$27,240). The median renter pays $870 a month including utilities, and 39.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bluefield | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $152,500 ±$27,240 | $118,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $870 ±$80 | $795 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.3% ±16.9 pts | 33.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,230 ±$235 | $1,159 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.2% ±7.5 pts | 74.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.8% ±7.5 pts | 25.6% | – |
| Housing units | 2,197 ±201 | 19,768 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.7% ±5.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4% ±8.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.7% ±5.2 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.5% ±3.7 pts | 21.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.9% ±2.1 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.8% ±6.1 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.6% ±6.9 pts | 6.6% | – |
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 Bluefield building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Bluefield in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.4 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 Bluefield work and get to work?
81.0% of Bluefield's workers drive alone and 8.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.9 minutes.
| Measure | Bluefield | Tazewell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.3% ±5.4 pts | 44.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% ±3.1 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 81.0% ±6.4 pts | 81.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.2% ±2.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.1% ±4.2 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.9 min ±9.1 | 27.1 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 Bluefield?
1 census tract lies mostly in Bluefield, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 202Tazewell County | 4,347 | $45,125 |
| Tract 211.02Tazewell County | 2,804 | $73,750 |
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 Bluefield) · Census block assignment files
How does Bluefield compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bluefield is the 4,982nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 66th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Bluefield ranks 305th 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 | 66th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 133rd | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 301st | 374 |
| Median household income | 305th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 249th | 374 |
| Median home value | 318th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 274th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 81st | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 222nd | 359 |
| Median age | 123rd | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 226th | 368 |
| Work from home | 257th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 132nd | 372 |
Bluefield's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Bluefield 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 Bluefield?
16 of the 57 figures for Bluefield 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 Bluefield 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 Bluefield.