Buena Vista city, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Buena Vista city is a small city located in Virginia, within Buena Vista city. The total population is 6,612. It ranks as the 178th most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Buena Vista city is 36.2 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Buena Vista city is $54,458. This is 40% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.0%. This is 122% 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 2.2%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $153,500. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Buena Vista city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 57.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Buena Vista city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.6%. The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

24.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower 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 83.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Buena Vista city, 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.