Population 98,796 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Suffolk City
Household size in Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.73 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.76 | 2.66 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.54 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Suffolk City sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in the wider Virginia Beach area, where it has 2.54 people. Household size has edged down from 2.73 in 2006–10, 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 Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.9 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.8 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 38.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.4 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Suffolk City are younger than 39.4 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 37.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the east, 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 Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 13.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 13.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 12.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 12.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Suffolk City than nationally: 13.3%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of the Virginia Beach area. The single-parent share is down 2.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Suffolk City
Renters in Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 35.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.4% | 37.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.3% | 38.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.3% | 36.6% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Suffolk City rent their homes (29.3%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 25.4% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 9.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 7.6% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Suffolk City than nationally: 7.6%, against 9.6% for the U.S. That is in line with the rest of the Virginia Beach area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, as it has nationally.
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 Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Suffolk City has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south 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 Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,035 | $1,107 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,177 | $1,232 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,391 | $1,358 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,673 | $1,647 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$638 | +$540 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Suffolk City pays $1,673 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $638 a month since 2006–10, up 62%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 34.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Suffolk City
Bachelor's degrees in Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 27.5% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 28.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.1% | 32.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.5% | 35.4% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Suffolk City (33.5%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the south.
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 Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 88.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 90.0% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.9% | 91.5% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 92.8% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Suffolk City is a bit above the national rate: 91.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in the wider Virginia Beach area (92.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 5.8 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 Suffolk City
| Period | Suffolk City | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 5.6% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Suffolk City is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.2 points since 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).
Suffolk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk City | 2.64 | 39.4 | 13.3% | 29.3% | 7.6% | 1992 | $1,673 | 33.5% | 91.3% | 5.1% |
| Portsmouth City | 2.40 | 37.4 | 18.8% | 42.1% | 7.8% | 1968 | $1,420 | 24.0% | 88.8% | 6.8% |
| Chesapeake City | 2.73 | 38.9 | 12.7% | 25.6% | 4.7% | 1989 | $1,815 | 36.7% | 94.2% | 4.7% |
| Norfolk City | 2.39 | 35.3 | 15.4% | 53.7% | 9.2% | 1967 | $1,441 | 32.4% | 90.7% | 6.2% |
| Franklin City | 2.35 | 38.3 | 20.0% | 46.1% | 13.4% | 1968 | $1,121 | 26.9% | 85.7% | 9.0% |
| Virginia Beach City | 2.60 | 39.4 | 12.2% | 34.9% | 6.6% | 1984 | $1,902 | 40.7% | 94.7% | 3.8% |
| Southampton County | 2.38 | 47.8 | 10.1% | 23.9% | 10.6% | 1983 | $1,018 | 20.3% | 87.8% | 5.6% |
| Greensville County | 2.57 | 41.9 | 22.4% | 33.7% | 19.6% | 1982 | $1,024 | 16.3% | 81.5% | 5.8% |
| Emporia City | 2.45 | 37.3 | 22.6% | 61.9% | 21.1% | 1961 | $1,029 | 17.9% | 80.4% | 2.6% |
| Brunswick County | 2.16 | 45.7 | 17.4% | 25.6% | 18.8% | 1980 | $954 | 16.9% | 82.9% | 3.7% |
| Mecklenburg County | 2.18 | 48.2 | 12.6% | 31.7% | 25.3% | 1981 | $845 | 20.0% | 85.8% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Grant County, WA · Dubuque County, IA · Elmore County, AL · Etowah County, AL · Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK · Floyd County, GA · Fond du Lac County, WI · Franklin County, WA · Frederick County, VA · Garland County, AR
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 Suffolk 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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