Blacksburg, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Blacksburg, Virginia Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 42.7% is well above the state average

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Expensive MarketHome value to income ratio of 8.9x indicates a costly housing market

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Blacksburg, Virginia had a total population of 45,446, the 22nd largest town in Virginia, with a median household income of $50,182, which is 46% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 42.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 46% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (42.7%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
69.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Virginia.
Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 8.9x the median household income.

Blacksburg Quick Facts

Population 45,446

Median Household Income $50,182

Median Home Value $446,300

Poverty Rate 42.7%

Unemployment Rate 3.1%

Median Age 21.9 years

Homeownership Rate 35.8%

Affordability Ratio 8.9x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 69.2%

High School Graduation Rate 98.0%

Diversity Index 42/100

Population 45,446 22nd of 681

Median Income $50,182 bottom 30%

Poverty Rate 42.7% 243% higher than national

Median Home Value $446,300 top 30%

How Blacksburg Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	45,288	45,446	+0.3%
Median household income	$48,070	$50,182	+4.4%
Median home value	$417,200	$446,300	+7.0%

How Blacksburg Compares

Median Household Income

Blacksburg

$50,182

$93,170

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Blacksburg

$446,300

$383,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 32.6%

$25K-$50K 17.4%

$50K-$100K 17.7%

$100K+ 32.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

22.3%

$10K-$15K

4.5%

$15K-$20K

2.5%

$20K-$25K

3.3%

$25K-$30K

5.0%

$30K-$35K

3.8%

$35K-$40K

3.9%

$40K-$45K

2.6%

$45K-$50K

2.0%

$50K-$60K

5.3%

$60K-$75K

3.7%

$75K-$100K

8.6%

$100K-$125K

5.8%

$125K-$150K

3.9%

$150K-$200K

8.4%

$200K+

14.3%

Employment

3.1% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%

50.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 35.8%

Renter 64.2%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

8.9x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,359/mo 32.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

9.8%

18-34

63.6%

35-54

13.5%

55-74

10.6%

75+

2.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Blacksburg Rankings in Virginia

#22 Population of 681

#467 Median Income of 585

#65 Education of 680

#152 Home Value of 580

Explore Virginia Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Montgomery County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Christiansburg	22,720	$77,147	11.7%	$252,600
Merrimac	2,733	$53,611	12.6%	N/A
Shawsville	1,411	N/A	17.4%	$101,600
Plum Creek	1,068	$41,603	15.8%	N/A
Riner	1,038	$105,759	9.8%	$388,000
Belview	990	$55,288	48.8%	N/A
Elliston	952	$47,045	40.6%	$255,300
Prices Fork	900	$69,063	7.0%	$300,000
Lafayette	628	$34,596	34.1%	N/A

Cities Similar to Blacksburg

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Danville	42,214	$44,423	$119,100	19.6%	24.6%
Charlottesville	45,437	$74,824	$486,700	62.5%	19.7%
Harrisonburg	51,392	$62,254	$299,100	37.5%	25.7%
Petersburg	33,537	$50,698	$189,000	25.4%	21.7%
Woodbridge	43,945	$104,741	$422,400	29.4%	9.0%

Population Overview

Blacksburg is a mid-sized community located in Virginia, within Montgomery County. The total population is 45,446. It ranks as the 22nd most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Blacksburg is 21.9 years. This is 44% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 9.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Blacksburg is $50,182. This is 46% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 42.7%. This is 332% 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 3.1%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $446,300. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 35.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 47% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Blacksburg is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 11.4%. The Black or African American population (3.9%) is well below the state average of 18.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (11.4% vs 6.9%).

Education

69.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Blacksburg in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 42.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.0%. Notably, 40.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Blacksburg, Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. 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. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Blacksburg, Virginia?

Blacksburg, Virginia has a population of 45,446 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Blacksburg, VA?

The median household income in Blacksburg is $50,182, which is 38% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Blacksburg, VA?

The poverty rate in Blacksburg is 42.7%. This means approximately 15,011 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Blacksburg, Virginia?

Blacksburg's population is 75.0% White, 3.9% Black, 4.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 11.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Blacksburg, VA?

The median home value in Blacksburg is $446,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 8.9x.

How educated is Blacksburg, Virginia?

69.2% of adults (25+) in Blacksburg hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 40.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.