CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Emporia

Virginia · 5,766 residents · 6.90 sq mi
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The short version

With 5,766 people, Emporia is a county in Virginia. Owners hold 38% of the housing stock. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 12% of adults. Households here earn about 61% less than in Virginia as a whole. The median household earns $30,058, about 55% below the national median. The typical home is worth $121,600, having more than doubled since 2000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,766
+2%since 2000
from 5,665 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
40.8
+5%since 2000
from 38.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
6.90 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K6K19902000201020202024Emporia
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.5%(372)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(344)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.2%(417)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.9%(396)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(310)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.9%(688)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.2%(587)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.7%(675)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.3%(825)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.2%(644)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.8%(333)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3%(175)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$30,058
−34%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,333 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,612
+28%since 2000
from $15,377 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
18.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
21.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information15.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade12.8%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance10.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical8.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Other services2.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$121,600
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$756
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $437 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
38.3%
−13.9 ptssince 2000
from 52.2% in 2000
61.7% rent
Persons per household
2.49 people
+12%since 2009
from 2.23 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
4.0
+40%since 2009
from 2.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic41.3%(2,342)
Black56%(3,174)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(84)
Asian0.5%(30)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic26.5%(1,529)
Black63%(3,631)
Hispanic / Latino6%(345)
Asian0.9%(50)
Other7.6%(436)
Segregation Score
54
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.8%(149)
Puerto Rican2.3%(126)
Ecuadorian0.2%(11)
Ancestry
Subsaharan African24.4%(1,319)
English5.5%(300)
German4.2%(229)
American2.9%(156)
French2.3%(125)
Italian1.8%(100)
Syrian1.8%(97)
Scottish1%(55)
Irish0.6%(31)
Kenyan0.4%(21)
Welsh0.3%(14)
Russian0.2%(10)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.1%(5)
Portuguese0.1%(5)
Hungarian0.1%(3)
Polish0.1%(3)
Swedish0%(2)
British0%(1)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
75.1%
+16.6 ptssince 2000
from 58.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
3.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.4 min
+46%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
72.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
19.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
16.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2011
from 14.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.1%
+7.7 ptssince 2011
from 56.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
81.0%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
26.1%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 30.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
43.9%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
56.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2013
from 18.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.9%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
85.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married43.5%(828)
Married40.5%(771)
Widowed4.4%(83)
Divorced11.7%(222)
Women 15+
Never married41.8%(993)
Married32%(759)
Widowed13.9%(329)
Divorced12.3%(293)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
11.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2013
from 18.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
37.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
10.5%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
15.5%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
38.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.8%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
46.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
50.5%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)30.6%(72)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)31.1%(73)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era10.2%(24)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War3%(7)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.6%(6)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 235 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Emporia to nearby counties

EMPORIA VS
Greensville County
Income$54,668+82%
Home value$159,400+31%
Population11,181+105%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMPORIA VS
Brunswick County
Income$53,084+77%
Home value$142,700+17%
Population15,727+189%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMPORIA VS
Northampton County
Income$50,086+67%
Home value$114,500−6%
Population16,491+203%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMPORIA VS
Sussex County
Income$63,530+111%
Home value$183,800+51%
Population10,755+97%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Emporia, Virginia?

Emporia, Virginia has about 5,766 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Emporia, Virginia?

The typical household in Emporia, Virginia earns about $30,058 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Emporia, Virginia expensive?

In Emporia, Virginia, the median home is worth about $121,600, and the typical rent is about $756 a month.

How educated are people in Emporia, Virginia?

About 11.7% of adults age 25 and over in Emporia, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Emporia, Virginia?

About 21.8% of people in Emporia, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Emporia, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Emporia, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 460 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →