Radford, Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Radford is located in Virginia with a total population of 16,505. It is the 91st most populous county out of 133 in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Radford 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 is $52,791. This is 42% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $78,538. 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 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 figures for Radford 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.