Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC Local Data & Statistics

State: VA-NC
Total population: 1,787,235 Household income: $82,330 Rent: $1,478

Overview

Total population
1,787,235
Rent
$1,478
Year built
1983
Household income
$82,330
Per capita income
$44,050
Poverty rate
10.8%
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Household size
2.5 persons
Rent over 30% of income
51.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State
VA-NC
Total population
1,787,235
Adults over 25
1,219,406
Total households
707,408
Household size
2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$82,330
Per capita income
$44,050
Poverty rate
10.8%
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Rent over 30% of income
51.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Housing

Rent
$1,478
Year built
1983
Households that rent
36.6%
Households that own
63.4%
Rooms per home (all homes)
6.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Race

White
54.1%
Black
29.6%
Asian
4.1%
Two or more races
9.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
8%
Not Hispanic or Latino
92%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Commute

Commute rate
87.8%
Commute time to work
25 mins
Work from home
12.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Education

Less than high school
28.1%
High school graduate or GED
25.2%
Some college or associate degree
10.9%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
35.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

 

Comparison of Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC with: Virginia North Carolina United States

Virginia Beach Metro Area

Total population1,787,235
Rent$1,478
Year built1983
Household income$82,330
Per capita income$44,050
Poverty rate10.8%
Unemployment rate3.1%

Virginia State

Total population8,705,170
Rent$1,579
Year built1984
Household income$93,170
Per capita income$50,666
Poverty rate9.9%
Unemployment rate2.8%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404
Rent$1,228
Year built1991
Household income$72,388
Per capita income$41,385
Poverty rate13%
Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499
Rent$1,413
Year built1980
Household income$80,734
Per capita income$44,673
Poverty rate12.5%
Unemployment rate4%
Metric Metro AreaVirginia Beach Metro AreaStateVirginiaState North CarolinaCountryUnited States
Total population1,787,2358,705,17010,730,404334,922,499
Rent$1,478$1,579$1,228$1,413
Year built1983198419911980
Household income$82,330$93,170$72,388$80,734
Per capita income$44,050$50,666$41,385$44,673
Poverty rate10.8%9.9%13%12.5%
Unemployment rate3.1%2.8%3.6%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC

Virginia Beach metro area spans parts of VA and NC.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,478, while the typical household income is $82,330. Rent in this metro area is lower than Virginia and similar to the U.S., and household income is lower than Virginia and similar to the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 36.6% of households. About 51.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 10.8%, which is higher than the Virginia rate but lower than the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 3.1%, which is higher than the Virginia rate and lower than the national rate.

 

Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC — Poverty vs Unemployment

 

💰 Rent in Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,478 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC

Annual Household Income: $82,330

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC

Estimated Rate: 10.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC

In Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC, households that rent: 258,713 (36.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 258,713 36.6%
Owner-Occupied 448,695 63.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC

In Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 133,562 (51.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 133,562 51.6%
Other renter households 125,151 48.4%
Total renter households 258,713 100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC

Less than High School: 342,563 people (28.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 307,176 people (25.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 132,844 people (10.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 436,823 people (35.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 1,219,406

📊 Unemployment Rate in Virginia Beach Metro Area, VA-NC

Estimated Rate: 3.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

 

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.