Population 163,466 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Stafford County
Household size in Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.02 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.08 | 2.82 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.05 | 2.86 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.10 | 2.77 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Stafford County is a place of big households: 3.10 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 3.02, even as the national average fell. Few Virginia counties have larger households: only three of 133.
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 Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.5 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.5 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.2 | 38.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.4 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Stafford County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.4, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.5, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 10.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Stafford County (9.6%), below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Washington area. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Stafford County
Renters in Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.6% | 34.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 36.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.6% | 36.8% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 36.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 19.5% of households in Stafford County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among owners, 21.9% have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the center. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.1 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 Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 6.6% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.2% | 5.9% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Stafford County: just 5.2% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.7 points, in line with the national trend. Few Virginia counties have a lower vacancy rate: only seven of 133.
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 Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1991 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1992 | 1978 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1995 | 1979 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Stafford County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1997, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1991 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only four of Virginia's 133 counties have newer homes.
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 Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,447 | $1,470 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,471 | $1,583 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,695 | $1,907 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,155 | $2,236 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$708 | +$766 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Stafford County pays $2,155 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $708 a month since 2006–10, up 49%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest 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 Stafford County
Bachelor's degrees in Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0% | 46.6% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.8% | 48.2% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.0% | 51.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 44.1% | 53.9% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Stafford County (44.1%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Even so, the share is lower than in the wider Washington area (53.9%). The share with a degree is up 9.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.0% | 89.4% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.8% | 90.2% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 90.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 91.2% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +1.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Stafford County is above the national rate: 92.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Washington area. The share with a diploma has risen 1.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Stafford County
| Period | Stafford County | Washington area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 5.9% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Stafford County runs below the national rate: 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Stafford County 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stafford County | 3.10 | 37.4 | 9.6% | 19.5% | 5.2% | 1997 | $2,155 | 44.1% | 92.7% | 3.9% |
| Charles County | 2.84 | 39.3 | 11.6% | 17.9% | 5.4% | 1992 | $1,956 | 33.7% | 94.6% | 4.8% |
| Culpeper County | 2.83 | 39.7 | 12.1% | 25.0% | 5.4% | 1992 | $1,461 | 27.4% | 87.1% | 2.6% |
| Madison County | 2.52 | 46.6 | 8.4% | 22.2% | 10.6% | 1981 | $1,206 | 27.2% | 89.1% | 4.8% |
| St. Mary's County | 2.72 | 38.4 | 11.9% | 26.8% | 9.6% | 1993 | $1,749 | 36.6% | 92.7% | 3.7% |
| Calvert County | 2.85 | 41.0 | 8.0% | 12.8% | 7.9% | 1989 | $1,810 | 37.4% | 95.0% | 2.7% |
| Rockingham County | 2.60 | 40.5 | 10.3% | 24.7% | 9.6% | 1985 | $1,246 | 29.8% | 88.0% | 2.6% |
| Harrisonburg City | 2.64 | 31.1 | 11.4% | 60.5% | 11.7% | 1983 | $1,209 | 42.9% | 86.8% | 7.3% |
| Dorchester County | 2.42 | 43.9 | 12.0% | 34.4% | 16.2% | 1974 | $1,144 | 18.8% | 85.5% | 6.5% |
| Wicomico County | 2.54 | 37.4 | 12.8% | 37.7% | 8.8% | 1982 | $1,346 | 29.1% | 90.5% | 5.9% |
| Highland County | 2.32 | 56.8 | 3.5% | 11.1% | 46.9% | 1970 | $854 | 29.9% | 89.0% | 9.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Rensselaer County, NY · Kings County, CA · Madera County, CA · Martin County, FL · Alexandria City, VA · Monroe County, MI · Olmsted County, MN · Ouachita Parish, LA · Penobscot County, ME · Portage County, OH
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 Stafford County. 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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