South Boston town, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

South Boston town is a small city located in Virginia. The total population is 7,896. It ranks as the 157th most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Boston town is 45.5 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 14.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Boston town is $41,102. This is 55% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 48% lower. The poverty rate stands at 26.3%. This is 165% 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 5.1%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $157,300. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 49.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Boston town is Black or African American, making up 55.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 40.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (55.6% vs 18.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

19.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% 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 85.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Boston town, 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.