Population 19,466 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Western Branch South
Household size in Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.96 | 2.78 | 2.64 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.95 | 2.80 | 2.66 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.92 | 2.80 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.14 | 2.73 | 2.54 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.17 | −0.04 | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Western Branch South is a place of big households: 3.14 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has climbed from 2.96 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Few Chesapeake neighborhoods have larger households: only two of 14.
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 Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7 | 37.0 | 37.0 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.8 | 37.8 | 37.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.1 | 38.2 | 38.6 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.3 | 38.9 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.4 | +1.9 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Western Branch South is young: half of its residents are under 35.3, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has dropped from 36.7 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Western Branch South has the youngest population of any Chesapeake neighborhood.
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 Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 13.4% | 13.7% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 12.7% | 13.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 13.0% | 12.9% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 12.8% | 12.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Western Branch South: 16.1% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 3.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Western Branch South
Renters in Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 25.2% | 35.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 28.4% | 37.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 28.8% | 38.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 25.7% | 36.6% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +0.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Western Branch South is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a quarter of owners (25.4%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.1 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 Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 5.3% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 7.0% | 9.7% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 7.8% | 9.5% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.7% | 7.6% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.3% of homes in Western Branch South are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. The picture is much the same across Chesapeake. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1983 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1984 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1987 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1989 | 1982 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Western Branch South are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of Chesapeake. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the north.
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 Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,129 | $1,218 | $1,107 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,307 | $1,371 | $1,232 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,407 | $1,506 | $1,358 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,613 | $1,814 | $1,647 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$484 | +$595 | +$540 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Western Branch South costs $1,613 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in Chesapeake as a whole ($1,814). Rents are up $484 a month from 2006–10, a 43% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 38.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Western Branch South
Bachelor's degrees in Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3% | 28.4% | 27.5% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.5% | 29.9% | 28.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.3% | 33.2% | 32.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.7% | 36.7% | 35.4% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.4 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Western Branch South than nationally: 38.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the east.
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 Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.8% | 89.3% | 88.9% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 91.0% | 90.0% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 92.3% | 91.5% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.6% | 94.2% | 92.8% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +4.9 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Western Branch South: 95.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Chesapeake as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 8.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Western Branch South
| Period | Western Branch South | Chesapeake | Virginia Beach area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 6.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 7.6% | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.6% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Western Branch South has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Chesapeake's 14 neighborhoods, only two have lower unemployment. 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).
Western Branch South compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Branch South | 3.14 | 35.3 | 16.1% | 15.1% | 4.3% | 1987 | $1,613 | 38.7% | 95.6% | 3.1% |
| Western Branch North | 2.56 | 39.8 | 14.6% | 25.7% | 4.7% | 1990 | $1,616 | 37.1% | 96.5% | 5.7% |
| Deep Creek North | 2.86 | 38.7 | 17.1% | 21.1% | 6.5% | 1978 | $1,443 | 18.7% | 90.0% | 9.6% |
| Deep Creek West | 2.83 | 35.9 | 8.3% | 8.7% | 6.1% | 2006 | $1,887 | 48.3% | 97.6% | 5.3% |
| Deep Creek South | 3.25 | 37.9 | 5.9% | 7.7% | 3.1% | 2003 | $2,492 | 49.3% | 95.9% | 4.0% |
| Downtown Norfolk | 1.78 | 33.4 | 17.9% | 81.2% | 7.8% | 1971 | $1,362 | 49.8% | 92.1% | 5.5% |
| Ghent | 1.73 | 39.5 | 2.4% | 63.4% | 6.1% | 1947 | $1,397 | 64.5% | 98.6% | 5.8% |
| South Norfolk | 2.74 | 35.4 | 16.9% | 35.6% | 7.9% | 1974 | $1,438 | 20.5% | 89.9% | 5.3% |
| Ghent Square | 1.68 | 37.7 | 3.9% | 67.5% | 7.8% | 1975 | $1,724 | 71.7% | 99.1% | 1.7% |
| Lamberts Point | 2.46 | 21.3 | 5.9% | 73.8% | 6.8% | 1985 | $1,432 | 37.0% | 85.3% | 7.2% |
| Highland Park | 2.32 | 23.6 | 4.0% | 80.0% | 20.0% | 1997 | $1,543 | 42.8% | 96.6% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: West of Twin Peaks, San Francisco, CA · Centralville, Lowell, MA · Central West End, St. Louis, MO · Mariner, Cape Coral, FL · South Lowell, Lowell, MA · South Land Park, Sacramento, CA · South Broadway, Cleveland, OH · Pleasure Ridge Park, Louisville, KY · Pinnacle Peak, Scottsdale, AZ · Original Town, Carrollton, TX
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 Western Branch South. 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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