County · Virginia
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County, Virginia. Stafford County had 170,803 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.8% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 7 places (7 census-designated) and 32 census tracts. GEOID 51179.
Stafford County is one of the 23 counties of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
170,803
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 156,927 · ACS 2020-2024: 163,466
Median household income
$137,807
±$4,821 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$485,100
±$7,303 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$2,020
±$91 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
How many people live in Stafford County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 156,927 residents in Stafford County. The Census Bureau estimates 170,803 for July 1, 2025, up 8.8% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 163,466 over 268 square miles of land.
| Measure | Stafford County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 163,466 | 8,705,170 | +16,693 |
| Households | 52,326±415 | 3,365,732 | +5,251 |
| Average household size | 3.05±0.02 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 54,659±83 | 3,684,756 | +5,367 |
Stafford County's population since 2000
From 92,446 in 2000 to 170,803 in 2025: up 84.8%. 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 Stafford County?
Stafford County holds 7 places: 7 census-designated places. The largest is Aquia Harbour with 7,481 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Aquia Harbour | 6,836 | $152,708 |
|---|---|---|
| Stafford Courthouse | 5,370 | $127,849 |
| Falmouth | 4,956 | $111,977 |
| Southern Gateway | 3,133 | $95,227 |
| Boswell's CornerGEOID 5108708 | 1,656 | not published |
| Camp BarrettGEOID 5112472 | 1,140 | not published |
| Quantico BaseGEOID 5165128 | 5,221 | $72,821 |
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 Stafford County?
The median resident of Stafford County is 36.3 years old; 26.2% are under 18 and 11.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 19.5%. 13.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Stafford County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3±0.2 | 39.0 | +0.8 |
| Under 18 years | 26.2% | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.4%±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.6% | 11.0% | +3.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 51.5%±0.7 pts | 58.4% | −10.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 19.5%±0.6 pts | 18.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.9%±0.3 pts | 6.9% | +0.7 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 | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.4%±0.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.8%±0.9 pts | 13.1% | +4.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 18.9%±1.1 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 17.1%±0.9 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 8.8%±0.6 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4%±0.8 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.7%±0.9 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 43.8%±1.5 pts | 42.2% | +3.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.2%±1.1 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.4%±0.7 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 Stafford County earn?
Half of Stafford County's 52,326 households earn less than $137,807 a year (±$4,821), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $136,740 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Stafford County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $137,807±$4,821 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $160,902±$4,479 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,157±$1,290 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.7%±0.9 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.3%±1.5 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.4%±0.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.8%±0.6 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 Stafford County?
Owners occupy 80.5% of Stafford County's occupied homes and renters 19.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $485,100 by its owner (±$7,303). The median renter pays $2,020 a month including utilities, and 33.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Stafford County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $485,100±$7,303 | $383,700 | +$59,157 |
| Median gross rent | $2,020±$91 | $1,579 | +$117 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.1%±3.9 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,545±$56 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.5%±1.4 pts | 67.3% | +3.1 pts |
| Housing units | 54,659±83 | 3,684,756 | +5,367 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8%±0.6 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.4%±2.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.1%±1.1 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.2%±0.6 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.4%±0.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.1%±0.6 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 Stafford County building?
Builders took permits for 450 new housing units across Stafford County in 2025 (419 single-family), 2.6 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 Stafford County get to work?
65.8% of Stafford County's workers drive alone and 20.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 36.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.
| Measure | Stafford County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.3%±0.9 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7%±0.6 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 65.8%±1.8 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.7%±1.2 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.1%±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.2%±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 20.0%±1.3 pts | 18.3% | +14.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 36.1 min±0.7 | 27.3 min | −4.4 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 are Stafford County's census tracts?
Stafford County is divided into 32 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $88,071 (Tract 103.04) to $216,845 (Tract 102.17).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Stafford County compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 12th of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 14th of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 44th of 133 |
| Median household income | 5th of 133 |
| Median home value | 14th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 9th of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 128th of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19th of 133 |
| Median age | 114th 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 Stafford 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.