County · Virginia
Hanover County, Virginia
Hanover County, Virginia. Hanover County had 116,423 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.9% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 3 places (1 city, village or borough and 2 census-designated) and 25 census tracts. GEOID 51085.
Hanover County is one of the 17 counties of the Richmond, VA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
116,423
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 109,979 · ACS 2020-2024: 112,879
Median household income
$112,805
±$4,144 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$400,400
±$7,997 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,591
±$63 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
How many people live in Hanover County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 109,979 residents in Hanover County. The Census Bureau estimates 116,423 for July 1, 2025, up 5.9% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 112,879 over 468 square miles of land.
| Measure | Hanover County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 112,879 | 8,705,170 | +7,342 |
| Households | 42,688±384 | 3,365,732 | +3,701 |
| Average household size | 2.59±0.02 | 2.52 | −0.07 |
| Housing units | 44,589±96 | 3,684,756 | +3,232 |
Hanover County's population since 2000
From 86,320 in 2000 to 116,423 in 2025: up 34.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Hanover County?
Hanover County holds 3 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Mechanicsville with 38,683 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Mechanicsville | 39,482 | $98,595 |
|---|---|---|
| Ashland | 7,565 | $61,164 |
| HanoverGEOID 5135160 | 235 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Hanover County?
The median resident of Hanover County is 42.7 years old; 21.6% are under 18 and 19.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.3%. 4.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hanover County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7±0.3 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.6%±0.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.2%±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.0% | 11.0% | +1.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.7%±0.5 pts | 58.4% | −3.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.3%±0.4 pts | 18.3% | −0.6 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1%±0.2 pts | 6.9% | +0.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2%±0.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.3%±0.5 pts | 13.1% | +0.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.7%±0.6 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.9%±0.7 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 11.3%±0.7 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.4%±0.6 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.5%±0.7 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 42.7%±1.6 pts | 42.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.0%±1.1 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1%±0.3 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 Hanover County earn?
Half of Hanover County's 42,688 households earn less than $112,805 a year (±$4,144), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $110,012 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hanover County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $112,805±$4,144 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $139,805±$6,173 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,490±$2,065 | $50,666 | +$2,785 |
| People below the poverty line | 5.7%±0.8 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.5%±1.6 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.2%±1.0 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.3%±1.1 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 Hanover County?
Owners occupy 82.1% of Hanover County's occupied homes and renters 17.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $400,400 by its owner (±$7,997). The median renter pays $1,591 a month including utilities, and 38.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hanover County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $400,400±$7,997 | $383,700 | +$52,237 |
| Median gross rent | $1,591±$63 | $1,579 | +$165 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.6%±5.1 pts | 39.4% | +7.9 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,996±$42 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.1%±1.3 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 44,589±96 | 3,684,756 | +3,232 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8%±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5%±1.7 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.0%±1.1 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.9%±0.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.8%±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.1%±0.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
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 Hanover County building?
Builders took permits for 511 new housing units across Hanover County in 2025 (279 single-family), 4.4 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Hanover County get to work?
72.8% of Hanover County's workers drive alone and 19.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.7%.
| Measure | Hanover County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.7%±1.1 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7%±0.5 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.8%±1.5 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.6%±0.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.0%±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.1%±1.3 pts | 18.3% | +12.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.9 min±0.8 | 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 are Hanover County's census tracts?
Hanover County is divided into 25 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $63,583 (Tract 3212.02) to $170,227 (Tract 3208.03).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Hanover County compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 17th of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 31st of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 51st of 133 |
| Median household income | 16th of 133 |
| Median home value | 24th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 22nd of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 123rd of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21st of 133 |
| Median age | 70th of 133 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Hanover County 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' school search.