Population 16,898 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Smithfield
Household size in Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.58 | 2.66 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.58 | 2.54 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.58 people per household, Smithfield sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.55 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the west.
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 Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.0 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.3 | 38.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.6 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.3 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.6, Smithfield is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.3, mirroring the country. Smithfield is older than the great majority of Virginia cities.
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 Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 13.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 12.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 12.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.9% of households in Smithfield, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 5.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Smithfield has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Virginia cities.
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 Smithfield
Renters in Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 35.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 37.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 38.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 36.6% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 14.4% of households in Smithfield rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 32.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.1 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 9.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 7.6% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Smithfield than nationally: 7.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Virginia Beach area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has edged up 1.2 points since 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 Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Smithfield is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1992, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $721 | $1,107 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $886 | $1,232 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,129 | $1,358 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,217 | $1,647 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$496 | +$540 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Smithfield runs $1,217 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $496 a month since 2006–10, up 69%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 35.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the northwest.
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 Smithfield
Bachelor's degrees in Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2% | 27.5% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.1% | 28.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.9% | 32.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.0% | 35.4% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in Smithfield (35.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.8 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
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 Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.1% | 88.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.5% | 90.0% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.8% | 91.5% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.0% | 92.8% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Smithfield is above the national rate: 94.0% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Virginia Beach area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.0 points, as it has 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 Smithfield
| Period | Smithfield | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 5.6% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Smithfield has been strong: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.3 points, 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).
Smithfield compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield | 2.58 | 45.6 | 5.9% | 14.4% | 7.0% | 1992 | $1,217 | 35.0% | 94.0% | 2.3% |
| Lawson | 2.37 | 50.9 | 7.3% | 5.2% | 2.9% | 1990 | $1,168 | 31.9% | 95.7% | 3.6% |
| Isle of Wight | 2.38 | 51.1 | 4.4% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 1994 | $1,275 | 13.2% | 81.3% | 6.1% |
| Carrollton | 2.60 | 39.2 | 7.8% | 27.3% | 6.0% | 2002 | $1,686 | 37.9% | 91.2% | 9.0% |
| Longview | 2.36 | 51.5 | 4.2% | 10.5% | 10.0% | 1994 | $1,260 | 18.6% | 88.3% | 1.8% |
| Comet | 2.81 | 40.8 | 6.3% | 16.7% | 8.5% | 1995 | $1,632 | 16.7% | 88.6% | 7.1% |
| Rushmere | 2.40 | 54.8 | 8.0% | 22.0% | 18.3% | 1981 | $912 | 25.6% | 91.0% | 2.7% |
| Everets | 2.26 | 50.9 | 6.2% | 17.3% | 16.4% | 1986 | $1,257 | 23.4% | 96.2% | 1.1% |
| Pons | 2.61 | 46.9 | 5.4% | 16.3% | 13.1% | 1993 | $1,448 | 19.7% | 94.1% | 3.4% |
| Newport News | 2.39 | 36.4 | 15.7% | 52.0% | 8.0% | 1978 | $1,428 | 29.4% | 90.3% | 6.2% |
| Whitley | 2.71 | 42.5 | 8.9% | 13.9% | 23.1% | 1993 | $1,203 | 21.4% | 92.6% | 0.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kathleen, GA · Fort Riley, KS · Fort Thomas, KY · Fort Valley, GA · Fostoria, OH · Franklin Farm, VA · Franklin, KY · Franklinton, LA · Fredericksburg, TX · Fruita, CO
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 Smithfield. 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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