Population 6,593 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buena Vista City
Household size in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Buena Vista City are small: just 2.37 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.44, mirroring the country.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.7 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.9 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Buena Vista City are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 39.7, a smaller shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.1% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Buena Vista City: 16.1% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only 11 of Virginia's 133 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Buena Vista City
Renters in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.2% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.5% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Buena Vista City than nationally: 43.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Nearly half of owners (46.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 8.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.7% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.9% of the housing in Buena Vista City, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1965 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Buena Vista City is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1965 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $643 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $754 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $803 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,487 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$844 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Buena Vista City costs $1,487 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $844 a month since 2006–10, up 131%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Buena Vista City
Bachelor's degrees in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.6% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Buena Vista City: 23.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.8% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 76.5% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.6% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.4% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +16.5 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Buena Vista City have finished high school as nationally: 88.4%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Virginia as a whole (91.6%). The share with a diploma is up 16.5 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Buena Vista City
| Period | Buena Vista City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.1% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Buena Vista City than nationally: unemployment was 3.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 4.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Buena Vista City compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista City | 2.37 | 40.2 | 16.1% | 43.5% | 14.9% | 1971 | $1,487 | 23.6% | 88.4% | 3.4% |
| Rockbridge County | 2.32 | 48.1 | 8.6% | 20.7% | 14.7% | 1980 | $940 | 33.6% | 91.3% | 3.5% |
| Lexington City | 2.24 | 39.0 | 8.8% | 46.2% | 25.3% | 1962 | $1,099 | 42.6% | 90.5% | 0.4% |
| Nelson County | 2.40 | 49.2 | 5.7% | 20.3% | 25.6% | 1984 | $919 | 36.2% | 90.4% | 3.0% |
| Alleghany County | 2.30 | 47.8 | 8.0% | 17.7% | 18.6% | 1968 | $749 | 14.4% | 89.8% | 2.1% |
| Covington City | 2.19 | 40.9 | 15.8% | 29.9% | 14.8% | 1951 | $789 | 9.4% | 86.1% | 4.0% |
| Fluvanna County | 2.65 | 44.8 | 7.8% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 1994 | $1,517 | 37.5% | 93.6% | 4.2% |
| Greenbrier County | 2.21 | 46.8 | 9.6% | 26.9% | 17.2% | 1977 | $843 | 22.4% | 87.4% | 4.1% |
| Summers County | 2.32 | 49.1 | 6.6% | 18.8% | 26.5% | 1973 | $928 | 18.3% | 83.5% | 2.2% |
| Goochland County | 2.51 | 49.8 | 4.9% | 15.1% | 7.9% | 1998 | $1,483 | 45.6% | 95.4% | 1.6% |
| Raleigh County | 2.50 | 43.6 | 13.7% | 24.7% | 15.3% | 1977 | $868 | 22.1% | 85.9% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Calhoun County, SC · Bullock County, AL · Burke County, ND · Greenlee County, AZ · Burt County, NE · Sublette County, WY · Butte County, ID · Greene County, AL · Gray County, KS · Calhoun County, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Buena Vista City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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