Virginia Beach city, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Virginia Beach city is a major urban center located in Virginia, within Virginia Beach city. The total population is 457,066. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Virginia Beach city is 37.4 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Virginia Beach city is $90,685. This is about average than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 15% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. The median home value is $366,300. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 64.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Virginia Beach city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 18.3%.

Education

40.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% 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 94.7%. Notably, 15.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Virginia Beach 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.