Blacksburg town, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Blacksburg town is a mid-sized community located in Virginia. The total population is 45,288. It ranks as the 22nd most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Blacksburg town is 21.9 years. This is 44% lower than the state median of 38.8 years. Only 9.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Blacksburg town is $48,070. This is 47% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 39% lower. The poverty rate stands at 42.8%. This is 331% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $417,200. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 34.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 49% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Blacksburg town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.6% of the population. Asian residents account for 10.8%. The Black or African American population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (10.8% vs 6.8%).

Education

69.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Blacksburg town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 68% higher than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.3%. Notably, 41.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Blacksburg town, Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 681 Census-designated places in Virginia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.