The Virginia Beach metro area: Camden County, Chesapeake City, Currituck County, Gates County, Gloucester County, Hampton City, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Mathews County, Newport News City, Norfolk City, Poquoson City, Portsmouth City, Suffolk City, Surry County, Virginia Beach City, Williamsburg City and York County · Population 1,787,235 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Virginia Beach area
Household size in the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.66 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in the Virginia Beach area has 2.54 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.64 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.2, the median age in the Virginia Beach area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 37.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the northwest.
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 the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in the Virginia Beach area (12.9%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.7 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 the Virginia Beach area
Renters in the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.6% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in the Virginia Beach area is about as common as it is nationally: 36.6% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Virginia overall (32.7%). Among homeowners, 29.3% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Virginia Beach area: 7.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Virginia comes in at about the same level. Vacancy is down 1.5 points from 2006–10, 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 the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in the Virginia Beach area are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1982, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, 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 the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,107 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,232 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,358 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,647 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$540 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Virginia Beach area pays $1,647 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Virginia overall ($1,743). Rent has climbed $540 a month since 2006–10, up 49%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 32.8% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 the Virginia Beach area
Bachelor's degrees in the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.4% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a third of adults 25 and older in the Virginia Beach area (35.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Virginia overall (42.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.9 points, in line with the national trend.
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 the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.0% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Virginia Beach area is above the national rate: 92.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. The Virginia Beach area has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of large metro areas.
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 the Virginia Beach area
| Period | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in the Virginia Beach area is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.6 points, 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).
Largest cities in the Virginia Beach area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach area (all) | 2.54 | 39.2 | 12.9% | 36.6% | 7.6% | 1982 | $1,647 | 35.4% | 92.8% | 4.9% |
| Chesapeake | 2.73 | 38.9 | 12.8% | 25.7% | 4.7% | 1989 | $1,814 | 36.7% | 94.2% | 4.7% |
| Norfolk | 2.40 | 35.2 | 15.5% | 53.8% | 9.1% | 1967 | $1,451 | 32.4% | 90.8% | 6.2% |
| Newport News | 2.39 | 36.4 | 15.7% | 52.0% | 8.0% | 1978 | $1,428 | 29.4% | 90.3% | 6.2% |
| Hampton | 2.43 | 38.1 | 14.9% | 43.8% | 8.2% | 1974 | $1,523 | 28.5% | 92.7% | 6.0% |
| Portsmouth | 2.40 | 37.4 | 18.8% | 42.1% | 7.8% | 1968 | $1,420 | 24.0% | 88.8% | 6.8% |
| Suffolk | 2.64 | 39.4 | 13.3% | 29.3% | 7.6% | 1992 | $1,673 | 33.5% | 91.3% | 5.1% |
| Williamsburg | 2.49 | 45.8 | 9.2% | 27.4% | 10.6% | 1993 | $1,714 | 49.8% | 95.1% | 4.0% |
| Yorktown | 2.55 | 42.3 | 8.6% | 25.6% | 4.6% | 1990 | $1,802 | 50.4% | 94.9% | 3.7% |
| Elizabeth City | 2.52 | 40.3 | 14.0% | 34.9% | 11.8% | 1986 | $1,322 | 29.3% | 89.8% | 5.2% |
| Smithfield | 2.58 | 45.6 | 5.9% | 14.4% | 7.0% | 1992 | $1,217 | 35.0% | 94.0% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Raleigh area · Oklahoma City area · Milwaukee area · Jacksonville area · Providence area · San Jose area · Nashville area · Indianapolis area · Columbus area · Cleveland area
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 the Virginia Beach area. 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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