CensusEasy
COUNTY

Petersburg

Virginia · 33,734 residents (2025 est.) · 22.72 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Richmond metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#108Most densely populatedof 3,1441,485
The short version

Petersburg has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,698. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $189,000. The poverty rate of 21.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 46% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 52%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
33,537
−1%since 2000
from 33,740 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,476 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 1,446 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
35.8
−3%since 2000
from 36.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:33,734 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
31K33K35K37K39K1990201020202024Petersburg
202434K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 58%(2,676)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 98.1%(2,714)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145%(1,677)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.4%(1,478)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.8%(2,279)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.3%(5,466)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.7%(3,932)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.6%(3,217)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.3%(4,464)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.2%(3,424)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.9%(1,655)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(555)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,698
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,851 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,418
+84%since 2000
from $15,989 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.2%
+10.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.7%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.436
+5%since 2010
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade8.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$189,000
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $68,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,174
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $495 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
38.6%
−12.9 ptssince 2000
from 51.5% in 2000
61.4% rent
Vacancy rate
16.2%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
32.3%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.8%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+22%since 2009
from 3.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
48
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Petersburg on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic18.2%(6,131)
Black78.6%(26,511)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(463)
Asian0.7%(234)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic14.4%(4,818)
Black74.2%(24,890)
Hispanic / Latino6.5%(2,183)
Asian1.3%(433)
Other3.6%(1,213)
Diversity Score
53
+13%since 2009
from 47 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
21
−36%since 2020
from 33 in 2020
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
Puerto Rican2.4%(803)
Mexican1.1%(365)
Honduran0.9%(296)
Guatemalan0.4%(148)
Salvadoran0.4%(134)
Cuban0.3%(102)
Dominican0.3%(86)
Panamanian0.1%(31)
Colombian0.1%(18)
Argentine0%(15)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(83)
Asian Indian0.2%(74)
Korean0.2%(68)
Bangladeshi0.1%(48)
Vietnamese0.1%(37)
Chinese0.1%(31)
Laotian0.1%(31)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(32)
Ancestry
English4%(1,334)
American3%(1,009)
German1.6%(539)
West Indian1.5%(502)
Italian1%(339)
Irish0.8%(282)
British0.6%(204)
Haitian0.6%(199)
Jamaican0.5%(180)
French0.4%(132)
Polish0.4%(129)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.4%(122)
Nigerian0.3%(108)
Guyanese0.3%(102)
Turkish0.3%(92)
Swedish0.3%(84)
Portuguese0.2%(75)
Russian0.2%(73)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(67)
Hungarian0.1%(34)
Czech0.1%(32)
Ukrainian0.1%(28)
Danish0.1%(26)
Swiss0.1%(25)
Austrian0.1%(24)
Canadian0.1%(22)
Lithuanian0.1%(22)
Barbadian0.1%(18)
Ethiopian0%(15)
Kenyan0%(12)
Greek0%(7)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest American population · Largest Puerto Rican population · Largest Central American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.4%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.7%
+18.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.2%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.7 min
+75%since 2000
from 14.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.4%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 76.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.0%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.0%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 14.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2011
from 58.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.4%
−33.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
Female
54.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
Foreign born
4.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.5%
−32.9 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 19.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.5%
−72.7 ptssince 2013
from 79.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.5%
+23.9 ptssince 2017
from 61.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 92.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married50.9%(5,904)
Married32.5%(3,773)
Widowed3.5%(402)
Divorced13.2%(1,530)
Women 15+
Never married49.8%(7,406)
Married24.9%(3,703)
Widowed9.5%(1,412)
Divorced15.7%(2,340)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Petersburg

Chambers County
Pop 34,253
Pike County
Pop 33,688
Franklin County
Pop 32,449
Wayne County
Pop 32,481
Places similar to Petersburg
Head to head

Compare Petersburg to nearby counties

PETERSBURG VS
Colonial Heights
Income$76,505+51%
Home value$246,600+30%
Population18,738−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETERSBURG VS
Hopewell
Income$54,729+8%
Home value$181,600−4%
Population23,261−31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETERSBURG VS
Prince George County
Income$84,897+67%
Home value$293,400+55%
Population43,936+30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETERSBURG VS
Chesterfield County
Income$101,931+101%
Home value$366,000+94%
Population397,148+1077%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Petersburg, Virginia?

Petersburg, Virginia has about 33,537 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Petersburg, Virginia?

The typical household in Petersburg, Virginia earns about $50,698 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Petersburg, Virginia expensive?

In Petersburg, Virginia, the median home is worth about $189,000, and the typical rent is about $1,174 a month.

How educated are people in Petersburg, Virginia?

About 25.4% of adults age 25 and over in Petersburg, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Petersburg, Virginia?

About 21.7% of people in Petersburg, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Petersburg, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Petersburg, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,849 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 8110Census Tract 8105Census Tract 8112Census Tract 8111Census Tract 8109Census Tract 8113Census Tract 8104Census Tract 8103Census Tract 8106Census Tract 8107Census Tract 8101
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Virginia
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Petersburg, Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy