Radford city, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Radford city is a small city located in Virginia, within Radford city. The total population is 16,505. It ranks as the 85th most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Radford city is 23.0 years. This is 41% lower than the state median of 38.8 years. Only 12.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Radford city is $52,791. This is 42% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 33.7%. This is 239% 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 7.6%. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $211,700. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 42.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Radford city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.2%. The Black or African American population (9.2%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.3%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

39.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% 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 93.2%. Notably, 20.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Radford 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.