Petersburg city, Virginia Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Petersburg city, Virginia, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Petersburg city, Virginia. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Petersburg city, Virginia. The estimated population of Petersburg city, Virginia is 33,229 people, with a median age of 37.2.

We can look at the total population in Petersburg city over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
33,229
+7.92%
+3.72%
2020
30,791
-1.82% -
2019
31,362
-1.46% -
2018
31,827
-0.66% -
2017
32,037
- -

Population of Petersburg city, Virginia by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
15%
15%
0.00%
Black/African American
75.8%
75.6%
+0.26%
Native
0%
0.3%
-100.00%
Hispanic
5.1%
4.7%
+8.51%
Asian
1%
1.1%
-9.09%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.1%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.8%
2.9%
-3.45%
Other
0.1%
0.5%
-80.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Petersburg city, Virginia by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 37.2 0% 35.3 -0.28% 39.3 -0.76%
2020 37.2 -2.36% 35.4 -0.56% 39.6 -3.65%
2019 38.1 -1.55% 35.6 -1.66% 41.1 -0.48%
2018 38.7 +1.04% 36.2 -0.28% 41.3 +1.98%
2017 38.3 - 36.3 - 40.5 -

The median age of Petersburg city, Virginia gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,906 +34.91% 2,262 -4.06% 2,622 2,162
10 to 19 1,684 -3.67% 1,342 +17.04% 1,608 1,580
20 to 29 2,474 -5.08% 2,987 -2.46% 2,346 2,903
30 to 39 1,975 +5.81% 1,989 +19.47% 2,079 2,380
40 to 49 1,593 -6.5% 1,851 -2.4% 1,464 1,774
50 to 59 2,073 -2.68% 2,426 0.07% 2,014 2,420
60 to 69 1,798 +15.44% 2,275 +7.04% 2,074 2,435
70+ 1,200 -2.41% 2,202 +0.87% 1,160 2,208

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Petersburg city, Virginia is $44,890.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Petersburg city.

  • Under 25
    $23,039.00
  • 25 to 44
    $46,892.00
  • 45 to 64
    $50,518.00
  • 65 and over
    $39,449.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Petersburg city, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Petersburg city, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Petersburg city, Virginia is currently $55,373.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

1.32% of households in Petersburg city are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Petersburg city against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    29.70%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    25.63%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    21.25%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.30%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    8.52%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    2.29%
  • $200,000 or more
    1.32%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Petersburg city is $26,091.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Petersburg city by the total population of Petersburg city.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Petersburg city, Virginia, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Petersburg city to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    12.54%
  • Bachelor's degree
    23.17%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.42%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    46.92%
  • Less than high school diploma
    4.95%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Petersburg city that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Petersburg city over the age of 16 is 26,564.

Of those people, a total of 62.50% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Petersburg city is 53.00%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,307 37.40% 35.40%
20 to 24 years 2,242 81.10% 27.50%
25 to 29 years 3,007 91.80% 7.20%
30 to 34 years 2,390 81.90% 15.70%
35 to 44 years 3,581 78.10% 9.70%
45 to 54 years 3,909 68.30% 10.20%
55 to 59 years 2,251 72.50% 7.20%
60 to 64 years 2,308 58.20% 6.00%
65 to 74 years 3,321 30.00% 8.50%
75 years and over 2,248 6.70% 4.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Petersburg city. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 4,592 62.20% 4.20%
Black or African American 20,352 62.40% 14.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 13 15.40% 0.00%
Asian 288 52.80% 8.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 32 93.80% 0.00%
Other 346 71.40% 22.00%
Two or more races 941 65.50% 4.80%
Hispanic or Latino 1,120 69.60% 6.80%
Not Hispanic or Latino 4,203 63.00% 4.50%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Petersburg city as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Petersburg city is 14,084, with median earnings of $33,223.00.

Women in Petersburg city, Virginia earning approximately 96.60% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 14,084 $33,223.00
Male 5,816 $33,930.00
Female 8,268 $32,776.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 845 $68,535.00
Business and Financial 631 $51,541.00
Computer and Mathematical 261 $87,350.00
Architecture and Engineering 176 $68,929.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 113 $61,962.00
Community and Social Service 514 $42,731.00
Legal 76 $111,058.00
Educational and Library 651 $39,952.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 86 $6,875.00
Healthcare Practitioners 712 $40,069.00
Healthcare Support 1,104 $29,485.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 199 $32,993.00
Law Enforcement 193 $50,774.00
Food Preparation and Serving 937 $13,390.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 628 $21,635.00
Personal Care and Service 278 $20,500.00
Sales 1,242 $25,000.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,745 $30,550.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 47 $15,795.00
Construction and Extraction 512 $40,272.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 242 $51,719.00
Production 1,079 $34,039.00
Transportation and Material Moving 680 $54,648.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 181 $94,145.00 664 $56,864.00
Business and Financial 169 $41,435.00 462 $51,946.00
Computer and Mathematical 150 $84,643.00 111 $92,522.00
Architecture and Engineering 128 $80,511.00 48 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 30 $0.00 83 $0.00
Community and Social Service 123 $43,693.00 391 $39,775.00
Legal 49 $112,356.00 27 $0.00
Educational and Library 197 $50,880.00 454 $36,942.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 58 $4,537.00 28 $56,500.00
Healthcare Practitioners 103 $64,453.00 609 $32,204.00
Healthcare Support 108 $24,919.00 996 $30,061.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 99 $24,107.00 100 $44,423.00
Law Enforcement 88 $51,889.00 105 $46,853.00
Food Preparation and Serving 347 $8,638.00 590 $14,459.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 362 $25,000.00 266 $17,375.00
Personal Care and Service 168 $21,316.00 110 $16,176.00
Sales 295 $30,272.00 947 $22,266.00
Office and Administrative Support 384 $28,190.00 1,361 $31,144.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 47 $15,795.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 490 $40,870.00 22 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 242 $51,719.00 0 $0.00
Production 571 $33,921.00 508 $34,155.00
Transportation and Material Moving 630 $55,093.00 50 $32,727.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 14,464 households in Petersburg city, with an average household size of 2.26 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 6,592 families in Petersburg city with an average family size of 3.43 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,651 841 3,100 7,872
Average Household Size 3.33 3.24 3.77 1.2
Total Families 2,651 841 3,100 0
Average Household Size 3.32 2.98 3.64 0

Poverty

Of the 6,592 families in Petersburg city, 18.90% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Petersburg city:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 17,853 housing units in Petersburg city, Virginia.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 14,464 81.02%
Vacant 3,389 18.98%

51.13% of the total 17,853 housing units in Petersburg city are rental units. This is approximately 9,128 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 5,196 are occupied by the owner - or 29.10% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Petersburg city is $1,023.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Petersburg city that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    140
  • Less than $500
    1,069
  • $500 to $999
    3,230
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    4,079
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    671
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    77
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    2

Property Value

The median value of a property in Petersburg city is $119,200.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Petersburg city that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    509
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,365
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,388
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,116
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    574
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    92
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    106
  • $1,000,000 or more
    46

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Petersburg city. The chart below shows the number of properties in Petersburg city that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    2,733
  • 1940 to 1949
    1,441
  • 1950 to 1959
    2,814
  • 1960 to 1969
    2,406
  • 1970 to 1979
    3,565
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,245
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,218
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,408
  • 2010 to 2013
    954
  • 2014 or later
    69

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Petersburg city that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    2,392
  • 1 vehicle available
    6,444
  • 2 vehicles available
    3,608
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,020

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Petersburg city get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Petersburg city that commute to work in a particular way.

24.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Petersburg city.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    134
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,350
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,478
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    2,421
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,766
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    1,084
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,645
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    454
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    473
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,067
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    302
  • 90 or more minutes
    305

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Petersburg city, Virginia in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.