City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Sandston, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sandston - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

7,011
Residents
$57,708
Median income
$201,800
Median home
$1,655
Median rent (state)

Sandston - the verdict

Nationally, Sandston sits in the 32nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

32nd
percentile, household income
43rd
percentile, home value
65th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sandston, VA

Virginia's Sandston is a small town, with 7,011 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Sandston households earn a median of $57,708 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.5%. Sandston's housing stock carries a median value of $201,800, and the median resident age is 39.5 years. Educational attainment runs 12.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 67.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 57.5°F.

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Virginia at 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,655 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 83.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

7,011 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$57,708 /yr

Poverty 6.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Sandston compare to other US cities?

Here's how Sandston stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 32% higher than other cities
Home value 43% pricier than other cities
Median rent 65% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Sandston against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Virginia-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Sandston toward the bottom of Virginia's cities

Among the 618 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Sandston ranks #502 - the 19th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Sandston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#372 of 558
33rd percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#203 of 619
60th percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#363 of 567
36th percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#273 of 616
55th percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#502 of 618
19th percentile in Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

32ndIncome percentile

32nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sandston's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$201,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 57% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sandston $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sandston, VA Sandston, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sandston, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sandston, VA median $57,708/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sandston, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sandston, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
7,011
Median Income
$57,708
Median Home Value
$201,800
Median Age
39.5
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Labor force participation
67.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.5°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.9%
Carpool
12.3%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
11.6%
Other
1.9%

Based on 3,933 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sandston sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,655/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Long Branch
7,066 people
Hutchison
6,936 people
Aquia Harbour
6,917 people
Floris
7,135 people
Strasburg
7,162 people
Spotsylvania Courthouse
6,793 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sandston's 7,011 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Demopolis, AL
7,010 people
Clinton, IL
7,012 people
Clover, SC
7,013 people
Robinson, IL
7,005 people
Atherton, CA
7,021 people
Fort Bragg, CA
7,001 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sandston's $57,708 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Alton, KS
$57,708 median income
Williamsburg, KS
$57,708 median income
Berwick, LA
$57,708 median income
Custar, OH
$57,708 median income
Empire, OH
$57,708 median income
Furman, SC
$57,708 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sandston, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sandston, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 52.1% 32.6% 10.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.1% White 52.1% Black or African American 32.6% Asian 1.7% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 10.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sandston compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sandston (this city) 7,011 $57,708
Long Branch 7,066 $180,833
Hutchison 6,936 $105,125
Aquia Harbour 6,917 $152,776
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sandston, VA?

What is the population of Sandston, VA? +

7,011 people live in Sandston, VA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sandston, VA? +

The median household income in Sandston is $57,708 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sandston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sandston; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sandston, VA? +

The median home value in Sandston is $201,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Sandston? +

The average annual temperature in Sandston runs 57.5°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.