City · Virginia
Emporia, Virginia
Emporia, city, in Emporia city, Virginia. Emporia had 5,447 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,766 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,547 (controlled total). GEOID 5125808.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,447
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,766 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,547
Median household income
$51,899
±$7,831 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$148,500
±$21,557 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,037
±$98 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Emporia and what county is it in?
Emporia is a city in Emporia city, Virginia. It covers 6.6 square miles of land, 870 residents per square mile in 2020.
Emporia covers the same area as Emporia city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Emporia'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 Emporia, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,447 people lived in Emporia on July 1, 2025, down 5.3% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 5,766 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,547.
| Measure | Emporia | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,547 | 8,705,170 | +105 |
| Households | 2,157 ±226 | 3,365,732 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.48 ±0.26 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,726 ±245 | 3,684,756 | +341 |
Emporia's population since 2000
From 5,665 in 2000 to 5,447 in 2025: down 3.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Emporia 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 Emporia?
The median resident of Emporia is 36.6 years old; 27.6% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 64.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 18.3%.
| Measure | Emporia | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 ±4.3 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.6% ±3.7 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.2% ±2.8 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 46.5% ±3.1 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.9% ±4.4 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 18.3% ±4.9 pts | 58.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 64.3% ±6.6 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.8 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 | 8.9% ±4.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.5% ±2.2 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.1% ±4.3 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.0% ±3.1 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 22.5% ±5.0 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7% ±3.3 pts | 6.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 80.6% ±5.1 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.0% ±4.5 pts | 42.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.0% ±2.4 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.9% ±4.5 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2% ±1.3 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 Emporia earn?
Half of Emporia's 2,157 households earn less than $51,899 a year (±$7,831), against $51,899 in Emporia city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $33,306 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $18,593 after inflation. 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Emporia | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,899 ±$7,831 | $93,170 | +$18,593 |
| Mean household income | $71,067 ±$8,220 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,969 ±$3,633 | $50,666 | +$6,209 |
| People below the poverty line | 15.8% ±4.5 pts | 9.9% | −11.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.4% ±11.5 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 34.1% ±7.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.6% ±3.4 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.4% ±3.8 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 Emporia?
Owners occupy 38.1% of Emporia's occupied homes and renters 61.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $148,500 by its owner (±$21,557). The median renter pays $1,037 a month including utilities, and 41.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Emporia | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $148,500 ±$21,557 | $383,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,037 ±$98 | $1,579 | +$183 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.4% ±11.2 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,699 ±$155 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 38.1% ±6.9 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 61.9% ±6.9 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 2,726 ±245 | 3,684,756 | +341 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 8.1% ±7.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3% ±3.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 76.3% ±6.2 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% ±2.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.6% ±5.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.5% ±5.2 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 Emporia building?
Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Emporia in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 0.7 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 Emporia work and get to work?
71.0% of Emporia's workers drive alone and 9.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.2 minutes.
| Measure | Emporia | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.5% ±4.8 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% ±2.6 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.0% ±9.4 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.2% ±7.9 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 4.4% ±3.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.9% ±4.4 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.2 min ±3.1 | 27.3 min | +4.8 min |
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 Emporia?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Emporia (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $51,719 (Tract 8901) to $52,008 (Tract 8902).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8901Emporia city | 2,878 | $51,719 |
| Tract 8902Emporia city | 2,669 | $52,008 |
Every census tract in Emporia: the tract table of Emporia 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 Emporia) · Census block assignment files
How does Emporia compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Emporia is the 4,666th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 60th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Emporia ranks 314th 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 | 60th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 137th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 246th | 374 |
| Median household income | 314th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 318th | 374 |
| Median home value | 321st | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 238th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 79th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 324th | 359 |
| Median age | 262nd | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 353rd | 368 |
| Work from home | 239th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 259th | 372 |
Emporia's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Emporia 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 Emporia?
17 of the 57 figures for Emporia 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 Emporia 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 Emporia.