Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 181,605 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area

What is the median household income in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area?: The median household income in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area is $64,627 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area is 7.7% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area?: $228,400 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area is $1,075 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 35.9% of adults in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

181,605

Median Income

$64,627

Median Home Value

$228,400

Poverty Rate

7.7%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

3.7%

Median Age

34.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$9,562 (+17.4%) Home Value: +$45,800 (+25.1%) Poverty Rate: -0.7 pp (-8.3%) Bachelor's+: +0.7 pp (+2%) Unemployment: -0.9 pp (-19.6%)

Demographics

Total Population 181,605

Median Age 34.0

Female 49.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 3.7% White (non-Hisp.) 85.2% Black 4.3% Asian 3.8% Two or More 4.0% Other 1.2%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

1.1%

Chinese

1.0%

Korean

0.5%

Filipino

0.2%

Vietnamese

0.2%

Japanese

0.2%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

1.6%

Puerto Rican

0.5%

Cuban

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $64,627 ±$2,441

Per Capita Income $87,291

Median Family Income $89,366

Poverty Rate 7.7%

Child Poverty Rate 12.8%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 7.8%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 26.6%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

9.9%

$10–15k

4.0%

$15–25k

7.5%

$25–35k

7.9%

$35–50k

11.1%

$50–75k

16.6%

$75–100k

13.4%

$100–150k

15.4%

$150–200k

6.9%

$200k+

7.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 81,987

Owner-Occupied 62.5%

Renter-Occupied 37.5%

Vacancy Rate 14.6%

Median Home Value $228,400

Median Gross Rent $1,075

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 15.9%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 42.2%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

7.6%

$50–100k

8.8%

$100–200k

12.5%

$200–300k

24.4%

$300–500k

21.8%

$500k–$1M

10.4%

$1M+

1.0%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

7.0%

$500–1k

36.9%

$1–1.5k

32.3%

$1.5–2k

14.6%

$2–2.5k

4.9%

$2.5–3.5k

2.4%

$3.5k+

1.7%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

5.6%

1 vehicle

29.6%

2 vehicles

36.7%

28.1%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

61.5%

Single-fam. att.

4.5%

2–4 units

3.1%

5–19 units

4.9%

20+ units

3.4%

Mobile home

11.4%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

6.9%

1940–1969

7.2%

1970–1999

17.6%

2000–2009

13.0%

2010+

8.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 93.5%

Bachelor's or Higher 35.9%

Graduate Degree 17.9%

Some College / Associate 19.2%

Less Than High School 2.3%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 57.3%

Unemployment Rate 3.7%

Work from Home 9.7%

Self-Employed 4.3%

Government Workers 23.1%

Private For-Profit 72.4%

Industry

Edu/Health

31.6%

Manufacturing

13.4%

Retail

11.2%

Arts/Entmt.

10.6%

Prof. Services

9.6%

Construction

5.1%

Finance

3.8%

Public Admin

3.5%

Transportation

3.2%

Information

1.2%

Agriculture

1.1%

Wholesale

1.0%

Occupation

Management

43.4%

Sales

18.0%

Food Prep

17.7%

Production

13.4%

Construction

7.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 21.2 min

Drove Alone 75.1%

Carpool 7.3%

Public Transit 2.0%

Work from Home 9.7%

Walked 4.2%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 70,035

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 44.3%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 16.1%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.1%

5–9

4.4%

10–14

4.8%

15–19

10.5%

20–24

14.1%

25–34

12.2%

35–44

10.5%

45–54

11.2%

55–64

5.9%

65–74

5.8%

75–84

9.9%

85+

5.1%

Under 18: 16.2% Working age (18–64): 83.8% 65 and over: 16.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 5.9%

Naturalized Citizen 41.0%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 1.6%

Foreign-Born Origin

Asia

52.2%

Latin America

18.1%

Europe

16.8%

Africa

8.8%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 5.5%

With a Disability 12.8%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 94.3%

Uninsured 5.7%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 86.5%

Has a Computer 93.0%

Same House 1 Year Ago 82.3%

Moved from Abroad 0.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023