State

Virginia

Virginia. Virginia had 8,880,107 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.9% since 2020, in line with the United States (+3.1%). 688 places (227 incorporated and 461 census-designated) in 133 counties; 39,481 square miles of land.

Residents, 2025 estimate

8,880,107

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,631,393

Median household income

$93,170

±$458 (90% margin)

Median home value

$383,700

±$1,024 (90% margin)

Median gross rent

$1,579

±$8 (90% margin)

How many people live in Virginia?

The 2020 Census counted 8,631,393 residents in Virginia. The Census Bureau estimates 8,880,107 for July 1, 2025, up 2.9% since 2020, in line with the United States (+3.1%). 69.1% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.

  • July 2020→2021 +22,704 (8,660,007)
  • 2021→2022 +21,031 (8,681,038)
  • 2022→2023 +50,996 (8,732,034)
  • 2023→2024 +87,608 (8,819,642)
  • 2024→2025 +60,465 (8,880,107)

Virginia is the 12th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Total population 8,705,170 +250,707
Households 3,365,732 ±7,402 +214,687
Average household size 2.52 ±0.01 −0.09
Housing units 3,684,756 ±486 +170,724

Virginia's population since 2000

From 7,078,515 in 2000 to 8,880,107 in 2025: up 25.5%. 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.

  • 2000 Census 7,078,515
  • 2005 (estimate) 7,577,105
  • 2010 Census 8,001,024
  • 2015 (estimate) 8,367,303
  • 2020 Census 8,631,393
  • 2025 (estimate) 8,880,107

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; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What are the largest cities in Virginia?

Virginia Beach is Virginia's largest place with 453,737 residents in 2025, followed by Chesapeake (255,332 residents in 2025) and Richmond (237,257 residents in 2025).

The 25 largest places in Virginia: Census estimate for 2025 (incorporated places) or ACS 2020-2024 (census-designated places)
PlaceResidentsChange since 2020Median household incomeCounty
Virginia Beach453,737−1.2%$92,968Virginia Beach city
Chesapeake255,332+2.4%$95,373Chesapeake city
Richmond237,257+4.7%$64,587Richmond city
Arlington236,254CDP: no estimate$142,114Arlington County
Norfolk231,013−3.0%$66,109Norfolk city
Newport News183,230−1.6%$69,634Newport News city
Alexandria160,662+0.7%$119,681Alexandria city
Hampton137,315+0.1%$69,621Hampton city
Suffolk104,699+10.9%$92,666Suffolk city
Roanoke99,111−0.9%$55,378Roanoke city
Portsmouth96,777−1.2%$60,491Portsmouth city
Lynchburg81,347+3.0%$57,947Lynchburg city
Centreville71,706CDP: no estimate$139,510Fairfax County
Dale City71,016CDP: no estimate$111,994Prince William County
Reston64,414CDP: no estimate$148,710Fairfax County
Harrisonburg50,839−1.9%$62,254Harrisonburg city
Leesburg49,917+3.3%$145,205Loudoun County
McLean49,627CDP: no estimate$250,000 or moreFairfax County
Tuckahoe49,183CDP: no estimate$102,264Henrico County
Lake Ridge46,049CDP: no estimate$127,154Prince William County
Ashburn46,026CDP: no estimate$154,978Loudoun County
Blacksburg45,104+0.6%$50,182Montgomery County
Charlottesville44,388−4.6%$74,824Charlottesville city
Manassas44,332+3.6%$113,590Manassas city
Burke44,029CDP: no estimate$185,818Fairfax County

All 688 places in Virginia, sortable

Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates

What counties are in Virginia?

Virginia has 133 counties. Fairfax County is the largest with 1,167,873 residents in 2025; Highland County is the smallest with 2,318.

All 133 counties of Virginia

Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates

Who lives in Virginia?

The median resident of Virginia is 39.0 years old; 21.7% are under 18 and 16.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.4%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 18.3%. 13.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median age 39.0 ±0.1 +0.8
Under 18 years 21.7% ±0.1 pts –
65 years and over 16.7% ±0.1 pts –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.0% ±0.1 pts +1.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic 58.4% ±0.1 pts −3.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 18.3% ±0.1 pts −0.5 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic 6.9% ±0.1 pts +0.6 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.1 pts –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.1% ±0.1 pts –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.7% ±0.1 pts –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.6% ±0.1 pts –
Born outside the United States 13.1% ±0.1 pts +0.7 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 17.4% ±0.1 pts –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 9.4% ±0.1 pts –
With a disability 12.5% ±0.1 pts –
No health insurance coverage 6.9% ±0.1 pts −1.7 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 91.6% ±0.1 pts –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 42.2% ±0.3 pts +3.4 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 18.5% ±0.2 pts –
Moved from another state in the past year 3.1% ±0.1 pts –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Virginia earn?

Half of Virginia's 3,365,732 households earn less than $93,170 a year (±$458). In 2015-2019 the median was $91,345 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $1,825 after inflation. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $93,170 ±$458 +$1,825
Mean household income $128,260 ±$601 –
Per capita income $50,666 ±$254 +$2,327
People below the poverty line 9.9% ±0.2 pts −0.7 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line 12.3% ±0.4 pts −1.6 pts
Households receiving SNAP 9.1% ±0.1 pts –
Households with a broadband subscription 91.0% ±0.1 pts –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Virginia?

Owners occupy 67.3% of Virginia's occupied homes and renters 32.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $383,700 by its owner (±$1,024). The median renter pays $1,579 a month including utilities, and 39.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $383,700 ±$1,024 +$47,598
Median gross rent $1,579 ±$8 +$60
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 39.4% ±0.4 pts +0.9 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $2,127 ±$8 –
Owner-occupied homes 67.3% ±0.3 pts +1.0 pts
Housing units 3,684,756 ±486 +170,724
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.8% ±0.1 pts –
Rental vacancy rate 4.8% ±0.2 pts –
Single-family detached homes 61.3% ±0.2 pts –
Mobile homes 4.3% ±0.1 pts –
Built 2020 or later 1.7% ±0.1 pts –
Built 1939 or earlier 7.0% ±0.1 pts –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Virginia building?

Builders took permits for 33,094 new housing units in Virginia in 2025 (20,458 single-family), 3.7 per 1,000 residents.

  • 2019 32,418 units
  • 2020 33,813 units
  • 2021 39,388 units
  • 2022 39,701 units
  • 2023 36,096 units
  • 2024 34,059 units
  • 2025 33,094 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Virginia get to work?

67.6% of Virginia's workers drive alone and 18.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure Virginia Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 65.4% ±0.1 pts –
Unemployment rate 4.3% ±0.1 pts −0.3 pts
Drove alone to work 67.6% ±0.2 pts –
Carpooled 8.0% ±0.1 pts –
Public transportation 2.3% ±0.1 pts –
Walked 2.1% ±0.1 pts –
Worked from home 18.3% ±0.2 pts +13.0 pts
Mean travel time to work 27.3 min ±0.1 −1.4 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections