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METRO AREA

Blacksburg Metro

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA · 5 counties · 181,616 residents (2025 est.) · 1,454.51 sq mi
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The short version

Blacksburg has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,775. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $255,151. The poverty rate of 20.1% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 56%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
181,664
+10%since 2000
from 165,146 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
125 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 114 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.6
+14%since 2000
from 31.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:181,616 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
150K159K168K177K185K1990201020202024Blacksburg
2024182K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,775
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,120 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,749
+113%since 2000
from $17,284 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.8%
+23.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.488
+9%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$255,151
+56%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,569 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,070
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $466 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 62.7% in 2000
37.9% rent
Vacancy rate
14.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.9%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.3%
−6.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+35%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
67
RELATED:See current rent listings in Blacksburg on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.9%(150,195)
Black4.1%(6,754)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(2,133)
Asian2.2%(3,675)
Other0%
Diversity Score18.3%(30,140)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.6%(153,663)
Black4.2%(7,687)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(6,842)
Asian3.9%(7,019)
Other3.6%(6,453)
Diversity Score34.8%(63,253)
Segregation Score27.9%(50,634)
Diversity Score
35
+91%since 2000
from 18 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
28
−12%since 2020
from 32 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.7%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 26.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.1%
+14.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.9%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.2 min
+45%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.9%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.5%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 59.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.9%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 65.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Female
49.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Foreign born
6.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.3%
−45.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−83.6 ptssince 2013
from 88.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.9%
+11.1 ptssince 2017
from 76.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 93.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BlacksburgCENTRAL45,104ChristiansburgCENTRAL22,442RadfordCENTRAL17,243
What's inside

5 component counties

Montgomery CountyCENTRAL98,434Pulaski County33,586RadfordCENTRAL17,243Giles County16,564Floyd County15,789
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Blacksburg

Abilene
Pop 185,429
Burlington
Pop 186,177
Muskegon
Pop 177,901
Decatur
Pop 160,326
Places similar to Blacksburg
Head to head

Compare Blacksburg side by side

BLACKSBURG VS
Abilene
Income$66,693−2%
Home value$182,918−28%
Population185,429+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLACKSBURG VS
Burlington
Income$65,651−3%
Home value$241,500−5%
Population186,177+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLACKSBURG VS
Muskegon
Income$65,024−4%
Home value$198,300−22%
Population177,901−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BLACKSBURG VS
Decatur
Income$68,260+1%
Home value$203,625−20%
Population160,326−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA has about 181,664 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?

The typical household in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA earns about $67,775 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA expensive?

In Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA, the median home is worth about $255,151, and the typical rent is about $1,070 a month.

How educated are people in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?

About 37.7% of adults age 25 and over in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?

About 20.1% of people in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA grown since 1990?

Yes, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 28,944 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →