County · Virginia
Suffolk city, Virginia
Suffolk city, Virginia. Suffolk city had 104,699 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 10.9% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 36 census tracts. GEOID 51800.
Suffolk city is one of the 18 counties of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Suffolk city is the same area as Suffolk: the county and the city are one area with the same figures. This page lists its census tracts and the places within it; the city's page has its city ranks and its building permits.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
104,699
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 94,324 · ACS 2020-2024: 98,796
Median household income
$92,666
±$3,881 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$347,400
±$5,812 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,563
±$58 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
How many people live in Suffolk city, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 94,324 residents in Suffolk city. The Census Bureau estimates 104,699 for July 1, 2025, up 10.9% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 98,796 over 399 square miles of land.
| Measure | Suffolk city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 98,796 | 8,705,170 | +8,703 |
| Households | 37,908±357 | 3,365,732 | +4,134 |
| Average household size | 2.58±0.02 | 2.52 | −0.07 |
| Housing units | 40,499±51 | 3,684,756 | +3,730 |
Suffolk city's population since 2000
From 63,677 in 2000 to 104,699 in 2025: up 64.4%. 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 Suffolk city?
Suffolk city holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Suffolk with 104,699 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Suffolk | 94,324 | $92,666 |
|---|
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 Suffolk city?
The median resident of Suffolk city is 38.7 years old; 23.6% are under 18 and 15.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 45.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 41.6%. 4.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Suffolk city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7±0.3 | 39.0 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 23.6% | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.3%±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.2% | 11.0% | +0.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 45.8%±0.4 pts | 58.4% | −3.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 41.6%±0.6 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.8%±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 | 4.6%±0.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.4%±0.6 pts | 13.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.3%±0.7 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 15.4%±0.9 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 13.3%±0.8 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4%±0.8 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.2%±0.9 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33.3%±1.4 pts | 42.2% | +3.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.1%±0.8 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7%±0.6 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 Suffolk city earn?
Half of Suffolk city's 37,908 households earn less than $92,666 a year (±$3,881), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $92,159 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Suffolk city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $92,666±$3,881 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $116,720±$4,556 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $45,819±$1,874 | $50,666 | +$2,819 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4%±1.2 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.7%±3.1 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.0%±1.1 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.2%±1.2 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 Suffolk city?
Owners occupy 70.7% of Suffolk city's occupied homes and renters 29.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $347,400 by its owner (±$5,812). The median renter pays $1,563 a month including utilities, and 47.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Suffolk city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $347,400±$5,812 | $383,700 | +$34,311 |
| Median gross rent | $1,563±$58 | $1,579 | +$85 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.6%±4.8 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,147±$42 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.7%±1.5 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 40,499±51 | 3,684,756 | +3,730 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4%±1.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.2%±1.3 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.3%±0.5 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.4%±0.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2%±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 Suffolk city building?
Builders took permits for 589 new housing units across Suffolk city in 2025 (514 single-family), 5.6 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 Suffolk city get to work?
79.0% of Suffolk city's workers drive alone and 10.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.0%.
| Measure | Suffolk city | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.3%±1.3 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0%±0.8 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.0%±1.4 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.7%±1.0 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.7%±1.2 pts | 18.3% | +7.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.2 min±0.6 | 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 Suffolk city's census tracts?
Suffolk city is divided into 36 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $38,861 (Tract 653.02) to $166,759 (Tract 753.01).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Suffolk city compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 19th of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 8th of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 50th of 133 |
| Median household income | 31st of 133 |
| Median home value | 40th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 24th of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 87th of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43rd of 133 |
| Median age | 95th 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 Suffolk city 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.