City · Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, city, in Staunton city, Virginia. Staunton had 26,801 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 25,750 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 25,948 (controlled total). GEOID 5175216.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
26,801
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 25,750 · ACS 2020-2024: 25,948
Median household income
$65,581
±$4,919 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$259,200
±$11,843 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,024
±$69 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Staunton and what county is it in?
Staunton is a city in Staunton city, Virginia. It covers 19.9 square miles of land, 1,293 residents per square mile in 2020.
Staunton is in the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Staunton covers the same area as Staunton city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Staunton'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 Staunton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 26,801 people lived in Staunton on July 1, 2025, up 4.1% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 25,750 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 25,948.
| Measure | Staunton | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 25,948 | 8,705,170 | +1,516 |
| Households | 11,309 ±278 | 3,365,732 | +712 |
| Average household size | 2.14 ±0.05 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 12,397 ±32 | 3,684,756 | +573 |
Staunton's population since 2000
From 23,853 in 2000 to 26,801 in 2025: up 12.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Staunton 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 Staunton?
The median resident of Staunton is 39.9 years old; 19.3% are under 18 and 21.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 78.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 10.3%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Staunton | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 ±1.4 | 39.0 | −2.9 |
| Under 18 years | 19.3% ±0.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.3% ±0.6 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 45.8% ±0.5 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.8% | 11.0% | +1.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 78.3% ±0.4 pts | 58.4% | −2.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 10.3% ±1.0 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±0.3 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±1.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5% ±1.0 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.5% ±1.0 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.3% ±1.1 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 15.2% ±1.4 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4% ±1.8 pts | 6.9% | −3.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.9% ±1.1 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 37.7% ±3.1 pts | 42.2% | +4.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.3% ±1.8 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.6% ±2.6 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.1% ±1.0 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 Staunton earn?
Half of Staunton's 11,309 households earn less than $65,581 a year (±$4,919), against $65,581 in Staunton city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $64,748 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Staunton | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $65,581 ±$4,919 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $82,942 ±$5,966 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,608 ±$2,295 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.4% ±2.2 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.1% ±5.7 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.0% ±2.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.6% ±2.1 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.3% ±2.8 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 Staunton?
Owners occupy 60.9% of Staunton's occupied homes and renters 39.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $259,200 by its owner (±$11,843). The median renter pays $1,024 a month including utilities, and 39.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Staunton | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $259,200 ±$11,843 | $383,700 | +$51,213 |
| Median gross rent | $1,024 ±$69 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.2% ±5.6 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,413 ±$73 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.9% ±3.2 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.1% ±3.2 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 12,397 ±32 | 3,684,756 | +573 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.9% ±1.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5% ±2.0 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.4% ±2.4 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.1% ±1.1 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 19.8% ±2.1 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.1% ±1.8 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 Staunton building?
Builders took permits for 147 new housing units in Staunton in 2025 (73 in single-family houses), 5.5 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 Staunton work and get to work?
75.7% of Staunton's workers drive alone and 8.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.
| Measure | Staunton | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.6% ±2.0 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% ±1.5 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.7% ±3.4 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.8% ±2.2 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 3.9% ±1.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.8% ±2.3 pts | 18.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.5 min ±1.0 | 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 Staunton?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Staunton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $49,470 (Tract 2) to $96,190 (Tract 5).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6Staunton city | 4,680 | $59,489 |
| Tract 3Staunton city | 4,599 | $80,914 |
| Tract 2Staunton city | 4,439 | $49,470 |
| Tract 4.02Staunton city | 4,055 | $67,299 |
| Tract 4.01Staunton city | 3,894 | $62,471 |
| Tract 5Staunton city | 3,162 | $96,190 |
| Tract 1Staunton city | 1,119 | $62,159 |
Every census tract in Staunton: the tract table of Staunton 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 Staunton) · Census block assignment files
How does Staunton compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Staunton is the 1,493rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 21st-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Staunton ranks 245th 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 | 21st | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 36th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 195th | 374 |
| Median household income | 245th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 230th | 374 |
| Median home value | 238th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 241st | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 114th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 169th | 359 |
| Median age | 173rd | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 250th | 368 |
| Work from home | 248th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 303rd | 372 |
Staunton's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Staunton 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 Staunton?
8 of the 57 figures for Staunton 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 Staunton 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 Staunton.