City · Virginia
Buena Vista, Virginia
Buena Vista, city, in Buena Vista city, Virginia. Buena Vista had 6,672 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,641 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,593 (controlled total). GEOID 5111032.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,672
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,641 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,593
Median household income
$57,833
±$8,629 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$156,200
±$14,139 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,112
±$127 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Buena Vista and what county is it in?
Buena Vista is a city in Buena Vista city, Virginia. It covers 6.4 square miles of land, 1,032 residents per square mile in 2020.
Buena Vista covers the same area as Buena Vista city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Buena Vista's; the county page lists its census tracts.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Buena Vista, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,672 people lived in Buena Vista on July 1, 2025, up 0.6% since 2020, slower than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 6,641 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,593.
| Measure | Buena Vista | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,593 | 8,705,170 | +109 |
| Households | 2,554 ±153 | 3,365,732 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.38 ±0.14 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,949 ±15 | 3,684,756 | +83 |
Buena Vista's population since 2000
From 6,349 in 2000 to 6,672 in 2025: up 5.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista?
The median resident of Buena Vista is 35.9 years old; 22.0% are under 18 and 18.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 10.0%.
| Measure | Buena Vista | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 ±1.9 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.0% ±0.7 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.8% ±1.0 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 48.6% ±2.4 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 11.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.7% ±1.4 pts | 58.4% | −3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±1.3 pts | 18.3% | −5.3 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 6.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±2.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 10.0% ±2.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9% ±0.8 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.0% ±2.1 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 20.9% ±4.5 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.3% ±2.0 pts | 6.9% | −6.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.9% ±3.7 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.3% ±5.0 pts | 42.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.6% ±3.5 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.8% ±5.2 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.3% ±2.4 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 Buena Vista earn?
Half of Buena Vista's 2,554 households earn less than $57,833 a year (±$8,629), against $57,833 in Buena Vista city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $39,942 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $17,891 after inflation. 18.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Buena Vista | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,833 ±$8,629 | $93,170 | +$17,891 |
| Mean household income | $63,830 ±$8,508 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,609 ±$3,402 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.8% ±6.5 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 26.0% ±15.4 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.6% ±5.3 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.2% ±4.0 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.6% ±5.3 pts | 91.0% | – |
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 Buena Vista?
Owners occupy 56.5% of Buena Vista's occupied homes and renters 43.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,200 by its owner (±$14,139). The median renter pays $1,112 a month including utilities, and 42.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Buena Vista | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $156,200 ±$14,139 | $383,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,112 ±$127 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.6% ±12.4 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $968 ±$130 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.5% ±7.7 pts | 67.3% | −11.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.5% ±7.7 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 2,949 ±15 | 3,684,756 | +83 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 9.1% ±6.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.2% ±4.7 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% ±2.7 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.3% ±2.5 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.7% ±4.9 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.5% ±3.5 pts | 6.1% | – |
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 Buena Vista building?
Builders took permits for 13 new housing units in Buena Vista in 2025 (13 in single-family houses), 1.9 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 Buena Vista work and get to work?
76.6% of Buena Vista's workers drive alone and 8.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.4 minutes.
| Measure | Buena Vista | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.4% ±5.5 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.4% ±2.4 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.6% ±6.3 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.0% ±5.0 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 5.3% ±3.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.1% ±4.0 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.4 min ±2.2 | 27.3 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 Buena Vista?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Buena Vista (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $50,392 (Tract 9306.02) to $62,155 (Tract 9306.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9306.01Buena Vista city | 3,572 | $62,155 |
| Tract 9306.02Buena Vista city | 3,021 | $50,392 |
Every census tract in Buena Vista: the tract table of Buena Vista city
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 Buena Vista) · Census block assignment files
How does Buena Vista compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Buena Vista is the 4,174th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 54th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Buena Vista ranks 286th 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 | 54th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 69th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 225th | 374 |
| Median household income | 286th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 349th | 374 |
| Median home value | 314th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 216th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 55th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 271st | 359 |
| Median age | 281st | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 288th | 368 |
| Work from home | 257th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 348th | 372 |
Buena Vista's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista?
13 of the 57 figures for Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista.