Virginia

Virginia by the Numbers:
Key Statistical Data and Facts

Key Details

• Virginia is the 12th most populated state in the US, with 8.7 million residents. 
• 61.8 percent of the population are between 18 and 65 years old, while 16.3 percent are above 65. 
• In 2022, Virginia was home to 3.6 million housing units with a median household size of 2.57 people and a median value for an owner-occupied unit of $295,500. 
• Sworn in in 2022, Glenn Youngskin serves as the 74th Governor of the state. 
• 59.3 percent of the working population have attained high school diplomas or higher qualifications, while 23.5 percent possess bachelor's degrees or higher qualifications. 
• As of 2022, Virginia's average per capita income is $43,267.  

Virginia Population Demographics

Located in the Southeastern United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia is the 12th most populated US state. As of 2022, the state was home to an estimated 8,683,619 residents. Between 2020 and 2022, the state recorded a 0.6 percent increase in the population. 

According to 2022 census estimates, 61.8 percent of the state's residents are between the ages of 18 and 65. An estimated 21.8 percent of the residents are under 18, while  16.3 percent are over 65. Virginia has an almost equal male-to-female ratio of 49.5 to 50.5.

Some regions within the state are more populated than others. Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake are some of the most populated areas in the state. An estimated 35 percent of the state’s residents live in the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area.

Virginia Housing

3,652,388 housing

According to the US Census estimates for 2022, Virginia is home to 3,652,388 housing units with a median of 2.57 people per household.

67%

Approximately 67 percent of these units are owner-occupied, while other units are either for rent or on the market.

$295,500

Between 2017 and 2022, the median value for an owner-occupied unit was $295,500

$1,891

Homeowners paid an average of $1,891 in monthly mortgage payments.

$501

In contrast, owners without a mortgage only incurred an average of $501 in expenses.

$1,326

During the same period, the average rent in Virginia was $1,326.

Virginia Racial Demographics

Virginia is home to diverse cultural groups and races, including

• Hispanics
• Whites (only)
• Blacks and Black Americans
• Pacific Islanders, including Hawaiians
• Asians
• American Indians and Alaskan Indians

Racial diversity differs in each county of the Commonwealth. As of 2022, Prince William County, Fairfax County, and Manassas County are Virginia's most racially diverse regions.

In contrast, Dickinson County and Russell County are the least diverse regions in the state.

Elections in Virginia

Elections in Virginia are evenly distributed between Republican and Democratic elected members. As of May 2023, the Republican candidates hold the governorship, state attorney, and secretary of state positions. The state speaker of the house and the president of the state Senate are also Republican members.  

Conversely, members of the Democratic Party control the Senate, while Republicans control the House of Representatives. There are 40 seats in the Senate and 100 in the House of Delegates. 

Governor Glenn Youngskin is the seventh Republican candidate to occupy the position. In contrast, Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have occupied the state senate seats since 2008 and 2012, respectively.  

2020 Presidential Election 

About 54.1 percent of voters voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential elections. In contrast, only 46.9 percent (1,962,430) voted for Donald Trump, the incumbent president. The remaining 1.89 percent (84,526) voted for an independent or third-party candidate. All told, 4,424,524 residents cast their ballots in the presidential election. 

Joe Biden

Donald Trump

Note: Virginia documented a total of 5,975,696 registered voters before the election. However, 75.08 percent turned out to vote.

President Biden received massive votes in places like Loudoun County, Chesapeake City, Virginia Beach City, and Arlington County.

Virginia Voting Statistics

As of 2023, there were 6,132,331 registered voters in Virginia. According to the Pew Research Center, 43 percent of adult residents are Republican voters. On the other hand, 39 percent of residents lean toward the Democratic Party. About 13.6 percent are undecided and may support either or none of the major parties.  

In the last state general election, 49.28 percent (3,021,956) of registered voters cast their ballot. In comparison, the voters’ turnout increased by 2.98 percent from the preceding year. 

General Election 

How Educated is Virginia

As of 2021, Virginia had the 7th highest educational attainment rate in the US. About 59.3 percent of the state’s working population (above 25 years old) had attained a high school diploma or higher qualifications. A further breakdown of this figure revealed the following:

1. 23.9 percent of Virginia’s residents had attained a high school diploma or an equivalent degree.
2. 18 percent of the residents possess only a college degree.
3. About 7.7 percent have attained an associate degree.
4. 23.5 percent have a bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree.
5. Only 18.6 percent have a graduate or professional degree.

The highest level of education attained

In terms of age demographics, residents between the ages of 25 and 34 have the highest number of bachelor's degrees. The age group 35–46 has the second-highest number of bachelors in the state.

As of May 2023, the Commonwealth of Virginia was home to 81 higher education institutions. This includes private and public colleges and universities. Liberty University is the largest institution in the state, with over 110,000 students enrolled there. The state is also home to top-ranking institutions like the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

South Carolina Employment Rate

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia had a 3.2 percent unemployment rate in March 2023. As of the time of the report, the state had a 4.5 million-strong civilian workforce, of which 1.43 million were employed.  

As of March 2023, 145,000 residents were unemployed. Keep in mind that the unemployment rate may differ based on the industry and even the location. Virginia’s counties, like Petersburg, Martinsville, and Hopewell, have the highest unemployment rates.

In terms of industry demographics, this table shows the employment rate in each Virginia industry.

Average Income in Virginia

According to the US Bureau’s 2022 report, the average per capita income in Virginia is $43,267. Furthermore, the state’s estimated median household income is $80,615, higher than the national average of $70,784.  

Household income levels vary based on factors such as geolocation, industry, number of earners, and educational attainment. A household with a single earner may get an average of $43,267 per year. In contrast, the rate will increase in households with multiple earners. 

In terms of geolocation, some counties record a higher median household income than others. For example, the average household income is higher than $100,000 in places like Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County.  

In contrast, Emporia County, Dickenson County, and Norton County have an average household income of less than  $40,000 mark. In 2021, the average household income in Emporia County was $36,111. 

Families in Virginia

Virginia Marriage Rates

Marriage rates in Virginia may vary across gender, age groups, and races. Men over 65 are more likely to be married (70.1%). However, only 26 percent of those under 35 were married in 2021. In comparison, women between the ages of 35 and 63 have the highest marriage rate (63.3%). Those in the age group (15 to 34) were the least likely to get married.

In terms of race demographics, Asians (62.6%) had the highest marriage rate as of 2021. In contrast, blacks and black Americans had the lowest marriage rate at 33.2%.

Virginia Divorce Rates

Virginia had a divorce rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents in 2021, a 13 percent increase from the preceding year. On a larger scale, the divorce rate decreased between 2001 and 2021. The state recorded a 4.1 divorce rate in 2001.  

According to the American Community Survey, the divorce rate may differ due to factors like age, gender, and racial group. For example, 8.4 percent of males over 15 years old were divorced in 2021. Furthermore, men within the age group (45 and 64) had the highest divorce rate. Those between 15 and 34 were the least likely to divorce in Virginia. 

In comparison, 11.5 percent of female residents (above 15 years old) are divorced. Women in the age group 55–64 had the highest divorce rate at 18.9 percent. Overall, those over the age of 45 have a higher divorce rate. 

In terms of ethnicity/racial demographics, blacks, or African Americans, had the highest divorce rate at 12 percent. American Indians (11.6%) and non-Hispanic whites (10.4%) had the second and third-highest divorce rates in Virginia, respectively. At 4 percent of their total population, Asians were the least likely group to divorce. 

Life Expectancy in Virginia

According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, Virginia residents have a life expectancy at birth of 77.6 years. This means an average resident has a chance of living beyond 70. Furthermore, the life expectancy after 65 years is 18.7.  

However, some factors may determine the life expectancy rate in the state. These factors include genetics, diseases, gender, race, and lifestyle. Under gender demographics, males and females have a life expectancy of 75.1 and 80.1 years old, respectively.  

Heart diseases and cancer were the leading causes of death in Virginia. In 2021, the state recorded 16,654 deaths due to heart disease. On the other hand, cancer caused 15,724 deaths in the same year. Infant mortality was at a rate of 5.6 per 1,000 documented births in the state. 

Virginia Crime Rates

According to the Virginia Police Department’s 2021 report, the state’s local law enforcement agencies documented a total of 361,890 crimes. The report broadly covers property crimes (102,734), violent crimes (221,417), and crimes against society (53,231). A further breakdown of the report showed data on these crimes: murder, rape, burglary, robbery, aggravated assaults, and arson. 

Note: The Virginia Police Department, via the Data Analysis and Reporting Team (DART), is the custodian of all incident reports in the state. It compiles an annual database of documented crimes. 

Virginia Incarceration Rate

23,684 people

Virginia Incarceration Rate There were 23,684 people incarcerated in Virginia’s correctional facilities in March 2022. In comparison with the preceding year, there was only a 0.26 increase in the incarceration rate.

64,290

That said, about 64,290 were on probation or parole.

The Virginia Department of Corrections is responsible for all prison-related regulations and duties. It is also responsible for generating a monthly population summary report. This report covers basic information, such as the number of inmates in each of the state’s correctional facilities.

Note: As of May 2023, there were more than 35 correctional centers in Virginia.

Virginia Bankruptcy Rate

2022

8,643 bankruptcy cases

According to the American Banking Institute, Virginia’s residents filed for a total of 11,374 bankruptcy chapters in 2022. The total figure covers filings for Chapter 7 (6,208), Chapter 11 (73), and Chapter 13 (5,092). In the Eastern District Bankruptcy Court alone, about 8,643 bankruptcy cases were filed in 2022.  

Generally, the bankruptcy rate in Virginia has drastically decreased by more than 300 percent within a few decades. In comparison, the state documented 41,763 bankruptcy filings in 2001.

Virginia is home to these bankruptcy courts:

Virginia Eastern District Court (US Bankruptcy Court) 

701 East Broad Street  

Richmond, VA 23219 

Phone: (804) 916-2400 

Virginia Western District Court (US Bankruptcy Court) 

Roanoke Location

210 Church Avenue 

Room 200 

Roanoke, VA 24011 

Phone: (540) 857-2391 

Lynchburg

1101 Court Street 

Room 166 

Lynchburg, VA 24504 

Phone: (434) 845-0317 

Harrisonburg

116 North Main Street 

Room 223 

Harrisonburg, VA 22802 

Phone: (540) 434-8327 

Weird Laws in Virginia