Petersburg: Demographics & People
Census counts 33,537 people in Petersburg, in 15,138 households. Population grew 0.5% from 33,365 (2022) to 33,537 (2024). Median age 35.8 years. (2.0y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 74% Black and 14% White (non-Hispanic). The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.38). 43% of households are family-led. County is gaining 827 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 46% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 57% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 69 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.5% from 33,365 (2022) to 33,537 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~33,711 (extrapolated at 0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 33,946.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,458 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 33,365 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 33,537 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 33,537 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 33,946 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.8y is 3.1 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 33,537 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 8,002 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 8,288.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 11,613.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 5,634 |
| Population under 18 | 8,002 |
| Median age | 35.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 33,537 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.38 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 5,293 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 25,758 |
| Asian residents | 412 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,013 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 37.9% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 76.9% |
| Asian population | 1.3% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 74.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.5% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 14.4% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 22,571 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 8,603 |
| Share born in this state | 67.3% |
| Share born in another state | 32.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,469 |
| From Europe | 128 |
| From Africa | 342 |
Households & Family Composition
15,138 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 43% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 6,673 families, 10% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 7,660 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 6,673 |
| Married couples with children | 691 |
| Single-parent households | 46 |
| Average household size | 2.21 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 1,743 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 668 |
| Family households | 6,499 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 42.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 15,138 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 21.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 827 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 21.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 30,440 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 29,613 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 827 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 2,843 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.8% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 540 residents live in group quarters (1.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 540 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 4 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51730 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 730 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Petersburg City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 61.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 53.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 70.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51730 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Petersburg city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 3,339 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51730 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Petersburg city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 42.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 35.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 5.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 31,346 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 11 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 15 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 33,537, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 33,537 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Petersburg city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade