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METRO AREA

Virginia Beach Metro

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · 18 counties · 1,797,213 residents (2025 est.) · 3,201.871 sq mi
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#37Largest by populationof 9251,797,213
The short version

Virginia Beach has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $84,869. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $338,965. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,787,235
+12%since 2000
from 1,593,771 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
558 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 498 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.7
+12%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,797,213 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1.4M1.5M1.6M1.7M1.8M1990201020202024Virginia Beach
20241.8M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$84,869
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,124 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,049
+117%since 2000
from $20,277 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
54.5%
+19.5 ptssince 2009
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.438
+6%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$338,965
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $108,441 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,504
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $621 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 63.3% in 2000
36.3% rent
Vacancy rate
7.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.5%
−8.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+59%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
38
RELATED:See current rent listings in Virginia Beach on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic61.1%(974,244)
Black30.7%(488,970)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(49,144)
Asian2.7%(42,452)
Other0%
Diversity Score63.3%(1,009,504)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.6%(939,372)
Black29.1%(519,199)
Hispanic / Latino8%(143,547)
Asian4%(71,493)
Other6.4%(113,624)
Diversity Score78.4%(1,401,323)
Segregation Score38.5%(687,663)
Diversity Score
78
+24%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
−1%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.8%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.0%
+8.5 ptssince 2000
from 84.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.3%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.9 min
+60%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.4%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.2%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 68.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.3%
−23.0 ptssince 2009
from 66.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
6.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
14.9%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 10.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.7%
−81.5 ptssince 2013
from 88.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.8%
+10.0 ptssince 2017
from 81.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 91.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Virginia BeachCENTRAL453,737ChesapeakeCENTRAL255,332NorfolkCENTRAL231,013Newport NewsCENTRAL183,230PortsmouthCENTRAL96,777
What's inside

18 component counties

Virginia BeachCENTRAL453,737ChesapeakeCENTRAL255,332NorfolkCENTRAL231,013Newport NewsCENTRAL183,230HamptonCENTRAL137,315Suffolk104,699PortsmouthCENTRAL96,777James City County83,326York CountyCENTRAL71,374Isle of Wight CountyCENTRAL41,321Gloucester CountyCENTRAL40,097Currituck County33,158Williamsburg15,861PoquosonCENTRAL13,292Camden County11,315Gates County10,234Mathews County8,529Surry County6,603
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Virginia Beach

Jacksonville
Pop 1,785,500
Providence
Pop 1,708,161
Indianapolis
Pop 2,205,695
Columbus
Pop 2,242,028
Places similar to Virginia Beach
Head to head

Compare Virginia Beach side by side

VIRGINIA BEACH VS
Jacksonville
Income$81,763−4%
Home value$342,382+1%
Population1,785,500−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VIRGINIA BEACH VS
Providence
Income$87,204+3%
Home value$426,358+26%
Population1,708,161−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VIRGINIA BEACH VS
Indianapolis
Income$83,841−1%
Home value$270,686−20%
Population2,205,695+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VIRGINIA BEACH VS
Columbus
Income$84,300−1%
Home value$300,581−11%
Population2,242,028+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC has about 1,787,235 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

The typical household in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC earns about $84,869 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC expensive?

In Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, the median home is worth about $338,965, and the typical rent is about $1,504 a month.

How educated are people in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

About 35.8% of adults age 25 and over in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

About 10.9% of people in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 322,637 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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

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