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Petersburg, Virginia Demographics 2026

Petersburg, Virginia has a population of 33,365, the 53rd most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $50,741 and the median home value is $157,900. The poverty rate is 21.1%.

Petersburg Quick Facts

Population 33,365
Median Household Income $50,741
Median Home Value $157,900
Poverty Rate 21.1%
Unemployment Rate 11.4%
Median Age 35.8 years
Homeownership Rate 38.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.1x
Bachelor's Degree+ 25.0%
High School Graduation 86.9%
Cities/Places 0
Population 33,365 53rd of 133
Median Income $50,741 44% lower than state
Poverty Rate 21.1%
Unemployment 11.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 26.2%
$25K-$50K 22.6%
$50K-$100K 32.1%
$100K+ 19.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
9.6%
$10K-$15K
7.1%
$15K-$20K
5.3%
$20K-$25K
4.3%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
4.4%
$35K-$40K
4.2%
$40K-$45K
4.8%
$45K-$50K
4.9%
$50K-$60K
10.3%
$60K-$75K
12.2%
$75K-$100K
9.6%
$100K-$125K
9.9%
$125K-$150K
4.0%
$150K-$200K
3.0%
$200K+
2.1%

Employment

11.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%
62.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 38.3%
Renter 61.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

42out 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

Petersburg is located in Virginia with a total population of 33,365. It is the 53rd most populous county out of 133 in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Petersburg is 35.8 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Petersburg is $50,741. This is 44% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 113% 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 11.4%. This is 165% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $157,900. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 38.3% 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 Petersburg is Black or African American, making up 74.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 14.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (14.6%) is well below the state average of 59.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (74.6% vs 18.4%). The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

25.0% 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 86.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Petersburg 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 Petersburg, Virginia?

Petersburg has a population of 33,365, making it the 53rd most populous county in Virginia.

What is the median income in Petersburg?

The median household income in Petersburg is $50,741 with a poverty rate of 21.1%.

How many cities are in Petersburg, Virginia?

Petersburg contains 0 Census-designated places.