CensusEasy
CITY

Radford

Virginia · 17,243 residents (2025 est.) · 9.676 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Blacksburg metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#99Youngest by median ageof 6,82623.3
The short version

Radford has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $57,348. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $220,700. At a median age of 23.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 28.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 38% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 23.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,726
+5%since 2000
from 15,859 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,729 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 1,639 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
23.3
+2%since 2000
from 22.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,243 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K18K1990201020202024Radford
202417K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,348
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,654 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,815
+88%since 2000
from $14,289 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.4%
+18.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 31.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.505
+5%since 2010
from 0.483 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$220,700
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,033
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $437 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
42.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 44.6% in 2000
57.7% rent
Vacancy rate
14.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
8.5%
−18.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.6%
−12.8 ptssince 2009
from 64.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+2%since 2000
from 3.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Radford on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.6%(13,900)
Black8%(1,274)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(184)
Asian1.4%(223)
Other0%
Diversity Score24.6%(3,907)
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.9%(13,535)
Black9.2%(1,544)
Hispanic / Latino4.4%(731)
Asian2.4%(406)
Other3%(510)
Diversity Score41.7%(6,967)
Diversity Score
42
+69%since 2000
from 25 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 34.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.8%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
+58%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.1%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.3%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.3%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.0%
+8.6 ptssince 2011
from 52.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.8%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.8%
−28.5 ptssince 2009
from 66.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
Female
55.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.3%
−42.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 9.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−84.6 ptssince 2013
from 89.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.4%
+11.7 ptssince 2017
from 75.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Radford

Lake Wales
Pop 18,650
Pinewood
Pop 18,114
Orange City
Pop 15,309
Elfers
Pop 15,006
Places similar to Radford
Head to head

Compare Radford to nearby cities

RADFORD VS
Christiansburg
Income$77,147+35%
Home value$252,600+14%
Population22,442+30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RADFORD VS
Blacksburg
Income$50,182−12%
Home value$446,300+102%
Population45,104+162%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RADFORD VS
Pulaski
Income$49,491−14%
Home value$160,500−27%
Population8,807−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RADFORD VS
Salem
Income$66,725+16%
Home value$258,600+17%
Population25,816+50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Radford, Virginia?

Radford, Virginia has about 16,726 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Radford, Virginia?

The typical household in Radford, Virginia earns about $57,348 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Radford, Virginia expensive?

In Radford, Virginia, the median home is worth about $220,700, and the typical rent is about $1,033 a month.

How educated are people in Radford, Virginia?

About 37.9% of adults age 25 and over in Radford, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Radford, Virginia?

About 28.7% of people in Radford, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Radford, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Radford, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 786 residents, a change of about 5 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Virginia
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Radford with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →