CensusEasy
CensusEasy
COUNTY

Stafford County

Virginia · 170,803 residents (2025 est.) · 269 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Washington metro area
The short version

Stafford County is home to 163,466 people in Virginia. Since 2000 the county has risen by half, up 71,020 people. That is roughly 48% ahead of the Virginia median. That puts it in the top 1% of US counties for household income. 80% of homes are owner-occupied. Median household income runs $137,807, well clear of the $82,259 US median.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $137,807, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Stafford County

What changed most since 1990

  • Population61,236 → 163,466 (+167%)US over the same years: +35%
  • White share89.5% → 51.5% (−38.0 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
  • Black share6.8% → 19.5% (+12.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts

Among the 133 counties in Virginia

  • 5th in household income$137,807
  • 19th in share with a bachelor's degree43.8%
  • 14th in home value$485,100
  • 10th in diversity score82.6
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
163,466
+77%since 2000
from 92,446 in 2000
170,803 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
607 / sq mi
+77%since 2000
from 343 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.3
+10%since 2000
from 33.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
269 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
51K82K112K143K174K19902000201020202024Stafford County
2024163K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.1%(9,946)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.2%(11,741)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.9%(12,986)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.6%(12,489)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.5%(10,652)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.5%(20,474)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4415%(24,496)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.7%(22,355)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412%(19,679)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.2%(11,802)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.3%(5,395)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.9%(1,451)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$137,807
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,809 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$53,157
+115%since 2000
from $24,762 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
77.4%
+16.9 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
4.7%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.373
+6%since 2010
from 0.354 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade2.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$485,100
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $155,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,020
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $842 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 80.6% in 2000
19.5% rent
Vacancy rate
4.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
3.05 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.95 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
18.7%
−13.1 ptssince 2009
from 31.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
−13%since 2009
from 4.0 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
42
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80.1%(74,027)
Black11.9%(11,013)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(3,342)
Asian1.6%(1,496)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic51.5%(84,188)
Black19.5%(31,801)
Hispanic / Latino16.6%(27,085)
Asian3.9%(6,435)
Other8.5%(13,957)
Diversity Score
83
+39%since 2009
from 59 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−1%since 2020
from 25 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
Central American5.8%(9,400)
Mexican4.6%(7,555)
Salvadoran4%(6,535)
South American2.2%(3,531)
Puerto Rican2.1%(3,416)
Peruvian0.7%(1,150)
Honduran0.6%(1,025)
Guatemalan0.6%(944)
Colombian0.5%(816)
Cuban0.4%(715)
Spaniard0.4%(705)
Dominican0.4%(587)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Bolivian0.3%(546)
Venezuelan0.3%(464)
Panamanian0.2%(397)
Nicaraguan0.2%(330)
Ecuadorian0.1%(228)
Argentine0.1%(154)
Uruguayan0%(57)
Chilean0%(16)
Asian origin
Filipino0.8%(1,280)
Korean0.6%(1,049)
Kazakh0.6%(1,043)
Pakistani0.5%(738)
Chinese0.4%(602)
Asian Indian0.2%(408)
Vietnamese0.2%(321)
Cambodian0.2%(264)
Thai0.1%(165)
Japanese0.1%(101)
Hmong0%(43)
+ 5 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(122)
Chamorro0.1%(106)
Ancestry
German10.7%(17,512)
English9.5%(15,449)
Irish8.8%(14,357)
American8.1%(13,186)
Italian4.2%(6,840)
Polish2.1%(3,400)
Scottish1.7%(2,847)
French1.5%(2,409)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(2,205)
Ghanaian1.1%(1,855)
West Indian1.1%(1,837)
+ 49 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.9%(1,424)
Arab0.8%(1,233)
Norwegian0.6%(1,046)
British0.6%(907)
Jamaican0.5%(861)
Swedish0.4%(589)
Russian0.4%(586)
Welsh0.4%(578)
Hungarian0.3%(509)
Iranian0.3%(488)
Haitian0.2%(401)
Ethiopian0.2%(393)
Portuguese0.2%(360)
Ukrainian0.2%(336)
Czech0.2%(324)
Slovak0.2%(315)
Nigerian0.2%(305)
Canadian0.2%(299)
Greek0.2%(299)
Lithuanian0.2%(253)
Lebanese0.1%(243)
Danish0.1%(229)
Romanian0.1%(213)
Barbadian0.1%(185)
Turkish0.1%(150)
Moroccan0.1%(144)
Austrian0.1%(136)
Swiss0.1%(133)
Finnish0.1%(124)
Kenyan0.1%(122)
Belgian0.1%(116)
Latvian0.1%(109)
Egyptian0.1%(98)
Palestinian0.1%(89)
Syrian0.1%(84)
Slovene0%(76)
Armenian0%(57)
Jordanian0%(47)
Guyanese0%(45)
Israeli0%(45)
Iraqi0%(44)
Croatian0%(41)
Serbian0%(22)
Bulgarian0%(15)
Brazilian0%(13)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.8%
+14.2 ptssince 2000
from 29.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.7%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 88.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.2%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
36.1 min
+17%since 2000
from 31.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
65.8%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 73.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
20.0%
+15.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 72.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
74.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 73.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
50.7%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 43.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
13.8%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
17.1%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 7.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.4%
−2.8 ptssince 2013
from 9.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.8%
+5.3 ptssince 2017
from 91.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
98.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 97.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
86.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 84.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
81.1%
−5.2 ptssince 2016
from 86.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.2%
+3.2 ptssince 2016
from 8.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33.8%(21,908)
Married57.1%(37,049)
Widowed2.1%(1,393)
Divorced7%(4,530)
Women 15+
Never married27.1%(17,292)
Married56.7%(36,270)
Widowed5.1%(3,268)
Divorced11.1%(7,083)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.4%
−2.8 ptssince 2013
from 9.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
63.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 63.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
9.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 9.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
11.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 11.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
10.5%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 8.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
5.4%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 5.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
81.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 82.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
25.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 23.0% 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)55.6%(11,017)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)54.5%(10,805)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era13.1%(2,602)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.5%(305)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.2%(35)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 19,818 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
Over time

Stafford County, decade by decade

Stafford County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199061,236$107,189$302,88921.6%24.2
200092,446$121,703$282,53929.6%42.8
2010128,961$133,881$511,12435.4%62.9
2020156,927$136,048$431,48641.3%79.9
2024163,466$137,807$485,10043.8%82.6

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Stafford County

Charles County
Pop 176,593
Carroll County
Pop 176,677
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Pop 177,311
El Dorado County
Pop 192,323
Places similar to Stafford County
Head to head

Compare Stafford County to nearby counties

STAFFORD COUNTY VS
Fredericksburg
Income$86,071−38%
Home value$483,700same
Population30,393−82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STAFFORD COUNTY VS
King George County
Income$116,884−15%
Home value$428,300−12%
Population29,646−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STAFFORD COUNTY VS
Prince William County
Income$131,402−5%
Home value$530,100+9%
Population502,966+194%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STAFFORD COUNTY VS
Spotsylvania County
Income$112,738−18%
Home value$404,900−17%
Population155,388−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Stafford County, Virginia?

Stafford County, Virginia has about 163,466 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Stafford County, Virginia?

The typical household in Stafford County, Virginia earns about $137,807 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Stafford County, Virginia expensive?

In Stafford County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $485,100, and the typical rent is about $2,020 a month.

How educated are people in Stafford County, Virginia?

About 43.8% of adults age 25 and over in Stafford County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Stafford County, Virginia?

About 4.7% of people in Stafford County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Stafford County, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Stafford County, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 102,230 residents, a change of about 167 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
All counties in Virginia

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Stafford County, Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy