City · Virginia
Covington, Virginia
Covington, city, in Covington city, Virginia. Covington had 5,680 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,737 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,680 (controlled total). GEOID 5119728.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,680
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,737 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,680
Median household income
$41,944
±$11,178 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$83,500
±$5,761 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$794
±$219 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Covington and what county is it in?
Covington is a city in Covington city, Virginia. It covers 5.5 square miles of land, 1,049 residents per square mile in 2020.
Covington covers the same area as Covington city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Covington'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 Covington, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,680 people lived in Covington on July 1, 2025, down 1.2% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 5,737 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,680.
| Measure | Covington | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,680 | 8,705,170 | +82 |
| Households | 2,576 ±118 | 3,365,732 | +192 |
| Average household size | 2.17 ±0.10 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,035 ±12 | 3,684,756 | +38 |
Covington's population since 2000
From 6,303 in 2000 to 5,680 in 2025: down 9.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Covington 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 Covington?
The median resident of Covington is 38.0 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 19.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.1%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 12.7%. 4.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Covington | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 ±4.9 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.0% ±0.8 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.8% ±1.4 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 46.6% ±2.1 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.6% | 11.0% | +1.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.1% ±0.2 pts | 58.4% | −1.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.7% ±2.1 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.2 pts | 6.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±2.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.1% ±1.2 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.2% ±1.4 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.6% ±1.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 15.1% ±3.3 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0% ±2.3 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.4% ±4.2 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 9.5% ±3.2 pts | 42.2% | −6.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.2% ±2.1 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.9% ±2.9 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±1.9 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 Covington earn?
Half of Covington's 2,576 households earn less than $41,944 a year (±$11,178), against $41,944 in Covington city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $50,034 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Covington | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,944 ±$11,178 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $54,148 ±$5,002 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,761 ±$2,338 | $50,666 | −$6,387 |
| People below the poverty line | 25.7% ±6.2 pts | 9.9% | +12.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 42.3% ±15.5 pts | 12.3% | +21.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.2% ±5.0 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.4% ±4.6 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.3% ±5.7 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 Covington?
Owners occupy 70.1% of Covington's occupied homes and renters 29.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $83,500 by its owner (±$5,761). The median renter pays $794 a month including utilities, and 41.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Covington | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $83,500 ±$5,761 | $383,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $794 ±$219 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.1% ±13.3 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,091 ±$129 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.1% ±5.2 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 29.9% ±5.2 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 3,035 ±12 | 3,684,756 | +38 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.2% ±5.2 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.6% ±3.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 34.6% ±7.2 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.0% ±3.4 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 Covington building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Covington in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 0.9 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 Covington work and get to work?
87.8% of Covington's workers drive alone and 7.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.1 minutes.
| Measure | Covington | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 46.7% ±4.7 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% ±3.6 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 87.8% ±3.6 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.2% ±2.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.3% ±1.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.3% ±3.2 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.1 min ±4.0 | 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 Covington?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Covington (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $32,563 (Tract 601) to $47,480 (Tract 602).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 602Covington city | 2,900 | $47,480 |
| Tract 601Covington city | 2,780 | $32,563 |
Every census tract in Covington: the tract table of Covington 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 Covington) · Census block assignment files
How does Covington compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Covington is the 4,558th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 58th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Covington ranks 346th 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 | 58th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 95th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 221st | 374 |
| Median household income | 346th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 350th | 374 |
| Median home value | 358th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 300th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 16th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 353rd | 359 |
| Median age | 217th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 171st | 368 |
| Work from home | 267th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 351st | 372 |
Covington's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Covington 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 Covington?
13 of the 57 figures for Covington 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 Covington 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 Covington.