Buena Vista city, VA

County

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2024 Population
6,593
US Senator
Mark Warner
Democratic Party
US Senator
Tim Kaine
Democratic Party
2024 Median Age
35.9
0.829% 1-year decrease
2024 Poverty Rate
18.8%
14.3% 1-year decrease
2024 Median Household Income
$57,833
6.2% 1-year growth
2024 Median Property Value
$156,200
1.76% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
2,822
2.29% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Buena Vista city, VA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

99.7% of the residents in Buena Vista city, VA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Buena Vista city, VA are Southern Virginia University (217 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Buena Vista city, VA was $156,200, and the homeownership rate was 56.5%.

Most people in Buena Vista city, VA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 17.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Buena Vista city, VA was 1 car per household.

Buena Vista city, VA borders Rockbridge County, VA.

United StatesVirginia

Population & Diversity

Buena Vista city, VA is home to a population of 6.59k people, from which 99.7% are citizens. As of 2024, 0.865% of Buena Vista city, VA residents were born outside of the country (57 people).

In 2024, there were 9.73 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (5.58k people) in Buena Vista city, VA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 574 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 134 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

99.7%
2024 Citizenship
100%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 99.7% of Buena Vista city, VA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Buena Vista city, VA was 100%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Buena Vista city, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Buena Vista city, VA
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    5.58k ± 91
  2. Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
    574 ± 162
  3. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    134 ± 85
0.228%
Hispanic Population
15 people

In 2024, there were 9.73 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (5.58k people) in Buena Vista city, VA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 574 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 134 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

0.228% of the people in Buena Vista city, VA are hispanic (15 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Buena Vista city, VA as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Virginia.
Most Common Origin
  1. El Salvador
    107,827 ± 8,012 people
  2. India
    97,961 ± 7,641 people
  3. Mexico
    63,695 ± 6,173 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Virginia was El Salvador, the natal country of 107,827 Virginia residents, followed by India with 97,961 and Mexico with 63,695.

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Foreign-Born Population

0.865%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
57 people
0.423%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
28 people

As of 2024, 0.865% of Buena Vista city, VA residents (57 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Buena Vista city, VA was 0.423%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Buena Vista city, VA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    122 ± 68
  2. Gulf War (1990s)
    47 ± 57
  3. Gulf War (2001-)
    36 ± 45

Buena Vista city, VA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.6 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Buena Vista city, VA.

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Economy

The economy of Buena Vista city, VA employs 2.82k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Buena Vista city, VA were Educational Services (464 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (386 people), and Retail Trade (339 people), and the highest paying industries were Finance & Insurance ($147,692), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($129,063), and Administrative & Support & Waste Management Services ($77,754).

Employment

Occupations

2.82k
2024 Value
± 438
−2.29%
1 Year decline
± 22.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Buena Vista city, VA declined at a rate of −2.29%, from 2.89k employees to 2.82k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Buena Vista city, VA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (327 people), Management Occupations (291 people), and Personal Care & Service Occupations (267 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Buena Vista city, VA.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Virginia (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

2.82k
2024 Value
± 438
−2.29%
1 Year decline
± 22.7%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Buena Vista city, VA declined at a rate of −2.29%, from 2.89k employees to 2.82k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Buena Vista city, VA, are Educational Services (464 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (386 people), and Retail Trade (339 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Buena Vista city, VA, though some of these residents may live in Buena Vista city, VA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$41,808
Median earning men ± $8,638
$34,375
Median earning women ± $6,874

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($148,141), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($77,813), and Other Services Except Public Administration ($66,196).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($128,170), Manufacturing ($52,596), and Public Administration ($37,679).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.
Y-Axis
2.48%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.1M people employed in Virginia. This represents a 2.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Virginia.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments
  1. 13
    Other Services (except Public Administration)
  2. 10
    Retail Trade
  3. 5
    Accommodation and Food Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

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Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll
  1. $36.6k
    Manufacturing
  2. $5.47k
    Health Care and Social Assistance
  3. $4.34k
    Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Kamala Harris with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.1%), followed by Other (0.905%).

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing the state of Virginia. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Virginia is currently represented by 11 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Buena Vista city, VA. Showing the available data for Virginia.
2024 Election Results
  1. Kamala Harris (51.8%)
    Democratic Party
  2. Donald J. Trump (46.1%)
    Republican Party
  3. Other (0.905%)
    Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Virginia went to Kamala Harris with 51.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.1%), followed by Other (0.905%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Virginia for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from Virginia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.
Mark Warner
Senator from Virginia2
Assumed office on January 3, 2009
Tim Kaine
Senator from Virginia1
Assumed office on January 3, 2013

Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are the senators currently representing Virginia.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Virginia over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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Education

In 2023, universities in Buena Vista city, VA awarded 217 degrees. The student population of Buena Vista city, VA in 2023 is skewed towards men, with 499 male students and 468 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Buena Vista city, VA are White (183 and 84.3%), Hispanic or Latino (11 and 5.07%), Two or More Races (11 and 5.07%), and Black or African American (4 and 1.84%).

The largest universities in Buena Vista city, VA by number of degrees awarded are Southern Virginia University (217 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Buena Vista city, VA are General Business (44 and 20.3%), General Psychology (42 and 19.4%), and Biochemistry (23 and 10.6%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $19,790.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University
Measure

In 2023 in Buena Vista city, VA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 99.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 26.9%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 967 (51.6% men and 48.4% women).

The line chart  shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

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Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 967 students enrolled in Buena Vista city, VA, 51.6% men and 48.4% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 735 records, of which 52% were women and 48% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. General Business
    44 degrees awarded
  2. General Psychology
    42 degrees awarded
  3. Biochemistry
    23 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Buena Vista city, VA was General Business with 44 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Buena Vista city, VA according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Southern Virginia University
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
217 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Southern Virginia University with 217 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 108 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Buena Vista city, VA, which is 0.991 times less than the 109 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 183 degrees mean that there were 16.6 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 11 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($19,790) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($250) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,500) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Buena Vista city, VA was $156,200 in 2024, which is 0.469 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $153,500 to $156,200, a 1.76% increase. The homeownership rate in Buena Vista city, VA is 56.5%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Buena Vista city, VA have an average commute time of 17.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Buena Vista city, VA is lower than the national average, with an average of 1 car per household.

In 2025, 17.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Buena Vista city, VA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.152%.

Housing

Property

$156,200
Median Property Value 2024
±$14,139
$1,443
Median Property Taxes
±$262

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Buena Vista city, VA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Buena Vista city, VA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

56.5%
Homeownership
2024
60.9%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 56.5% of the housing units in Buena Vista city, VA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 57.2%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Buena Vista city, VA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$57,833
Median Household Income
± $8,629
2.55k
Number of Households
± 360

In 2024, the median household income of the 2.55k households in Buena Vista city, VA grew to $57,833 from the previous year's value of $54,458.

The following chart displays the households in Buena Vista city, VA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $50k - $60k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Buena Vista city, VA is from Virginia.
0.472
2023 Wage GINI in Virginia
0.475
2022 Wage GINI in Virginia

In 2023, the income inequality in Virginia was 0.472 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.599% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Virginia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (76.6%)
  2. Carpooled (10%)
  3. Worked At Home (8.05%)

In 2024, 76.6% of workers in Buena Vista city, VA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10%) and those who worked at home (8.05%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

17.4 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Buena Vista city, VA have a shorter commute time (17.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0.943% of the workforce in Buena Vista city, VA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Buena Vista city, VA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

1 car
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Buena Vista city, VA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Buena Vista city, VA have 1 car.

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Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 17.2% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Buena Vista city, VA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.152%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

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Poverty & Diversity

18.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Buena Vista city, VA (1.15k out of 6.09k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Females < 5.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Buena Vista city, VA is White, followed by Two Or More and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Children in Poverty

In 2025, 18.3% of the children was living in poverty in Buena Vista city, VA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.8%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

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Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 98 in Buena Vista city, VA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 40.3 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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Health

95.7% of the population of Buena Vista city, VA has health coverage, with 44% on employee plans, 21.4% on Medicaid, 15.3% on Medicare, 12.4% on non-group plans, and 2.57% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Buena Vista city, VA see 0 patients per year on average, which represents a NaNk% change from the previous year (0 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1318 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1313 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.4% were men and 51.6% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

0 to 1
Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Buena Vista city, VA

Primary care physicians in Buena Vista city, VA see an average of 0 patients per year. This represents a NaNk% change from the previous year (0 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Buena Vista city, VA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

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Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.3% under 18 years, 22.5% between 18 and 34 years, 32.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 18.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.4% were men and 51.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

4.32%
Uninsured
44%
Employer Coverage
21.4%
Medicaid
15.3%
Medicare
12.4%
Non-Group
2.57%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Buena Vista city, VA declined by 15.1% from 5.09% to 4.32%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Buena Vista city, VA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Buena Vista city, VA.

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 40.1% in Buena Vista city, VA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Buena Vista city, VA.

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Clinical Care

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 7.28% in Buena Vista city, VA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Buena Vista city, VA.

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