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Emporia, Virginia Demographics 2026

Emporia, Virginia has a population of 5,633, the 129th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $49,375 and the median home value is $131,100. The poverty rate is 13.5%.

Emporia Quick Facts

Population 5,633
Median Household Income $49,375
Median Home Value $131,100
Poverty Rate 13.5%
Unemployment Rate 3.4%
Median Age 39.5 years
Homeownership Rate 38.4%
Affordability Ratio 2.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 15.2%
High School Graduation 75.7%
Cities/Places 0
Population 5,633 129th of 133
Median Income $49,375 46% lower than state
Poverty Rate 13.5%
Unemployment 3.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.6%
$25K-$50K 30.7%
$50K-$100K 27.0%
$100K+ 21.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.4%
$10K-$15K
7.6%
$15K-$20K
5.1%
$20K-$25K
4.5%
$25K-$30K
7.7%
$30K-$35K
9.1%
$35K-$40K
2.8%
$40K-$45K
5.9%
$45K-$50K
5.1%
$50K-$60K
6.1%
$60K-$75K
7.5%
$75K-$100K
13.3%
$100K-$125K
5.0%
$125K-$150K
12.2%
$150K-$200K
3.6%
$200K+
1.0%

Employment

3.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%
52.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 38.4%
Renter 61.6%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.7x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

54out of 100
Moderate Diversity

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

State average: 60 | National average: 61

Education

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

Population Overview

Emporia is located in Virginia with a total population of 5,633. It is the 129th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Emporia is 39.5 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Emporia is $49,375. This is 46% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 13.5%. This is 36% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $131,100. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Emporia is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 38.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Emporia is Black or African American, making up 63.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 19.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (19.6%) is well below the state average of 59.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (63.6% vs 18.4%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 63% 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 75.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Emporia come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Emporia, Virginia?

Emporia has a population of 5,633, making it the 129th most populous county in Virginia.

What is the median income in Emporia?

The median household income in Emporia is $49,375 with a poverty rate of 13.5%.

How many cities are in Emporia, Virginia?

Emporia contains 0 Census-designated places.