United States › Virginia › Altavista CITY
Altavista Virginia · 3,353 residents (2025 est.) · 5.36 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Altavista is home to 3,342 people in Virginia. Households here earn about 45% less than in Virginia as a whole. The typical home is worth $142,900, having more than doubled since 2000. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. People stay put here: 77% were in the same home a year ago. Owners hold 55% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 3,425 in 2000
3,353 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
624 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2009
from 624 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
3K 3K 4K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Altavista Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $51,349
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,818 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,997 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.4%
Public administration 4.4%
Transportation & warehousing 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
Education & health services 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$142,900
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $74,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$910
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $420 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 66.3% in 2000
44.7% rent
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.46 people
+11%since 2009
from 2.21 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 27.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 73.8%(2,527)
Hispanic / Latino 0.9%(32)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 65%(2,172)
Hispanic / Latino 3.5%(117)
from 68 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 68.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 89.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 51.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 81.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 24.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 10.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 87.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 81.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 96.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 47.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 13.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 28.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 56.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 36.4%(98)
Gulf War (1990s) 53.2%(143)
Share of the 269 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Altavista, Virginia? Altavista, Virginia has about 3,342 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Altavista, Virginia? The typical household in Altavista, Virginia earns about $51,349 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Altavista, Virginia expensive? In Altavista, Virginia, the median home is worth about $142,900, and the typical rent is about $910 a month.
How educated are people in Altavista, Virginia? About 27.7% of adults age 25 and over in Altavista, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Altavista, Virginia? About 11.9% of people in Altavista, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Altavista, Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Altavista, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 344 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.
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