South Boston, VA

Census Place

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2023 Population

7,896

0.579% 1-year decline

US Senator

Mark Warner

Democratic Party

US Senator

Tim Kaine

Democratic Party

2023 Median Age

45.5

9.37% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

26.3%

28.9% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$41,102

17.2% 1-year decline

2023 Median Property Value

$157,300

9.92% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

2,653

8.39% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, South Boston, VA had a population of 7.9k people with a median age of 45.5 and a median household income of $41,102. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of South Boston, VA declined from 7,942 to 7,896, a −0.579% decrease and its median household income declined from $49,654 to $41,102, a −17.2% decrease.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in South Boston, VA are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (55.6%), White (Non-Hispanic) (40.9%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.57%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.46%), and White (Hispanic) (0.329%).

None of the households in South Boston, 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.

98.6% of the residents in South Boston, VA are U.S. citizens.

In 2023, the median property value in South Boston, VA was $157,300, and the homeownership rate was 49.5%.

Most people in South Boston, VA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 17 minutes. The average car ownership in South Boston, VA was 2 cars per household.

United States Virginia Halifax County, VA Southside Planning District Commission & Commonwealth Regional Council PUMA, VA

Population & Diversity

South Boston, VA is home to a population of 7.9k people, from which 98.6% are citizens. As of 2023, 2.74% of South Boston, VA residents were born outside of the country (216 people).

In 2023, there were 1.36 times more Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents (4.39k people) in South Boston, VA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 3.23k White (Non-Hispanic) and 124 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

98.6%

2023 Citizenship

98.8%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 98.6% of South Boston, VA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in South Boston, VA was 98.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in South Boston, VA

Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
4.39k ± 381
White (Non-Hispanic)
3.23k ± 392
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
124 ± 82.1

0.456%

Hispanic Population

36 people

0.456% of the people in South Boston, VA are hispanic (36 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in South Boston, VA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Virginia.

Most Common Origin

El Salvador
107,605 ± 8,003 people
India
98,735 ± 7,670 people
Mexico
59,855 ± 5,986 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Virginia was El Salvador, the natal country of 107,605 Virginia residents, followed by India with 98,735 and Mexico with 59,855.

Foreign-Born Population

2.74%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

216 people

2.56%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

203 people

As of 2023, 2.74% of South Boston, VA residents (216 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in South Boston, VA was 2.56%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
109 ± 73
Gulf War (1990s)
51 ± 59
World War II
26 ± 40

South Boston, VA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.14 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of South Boston, VA employs 2.65k people. The largest industries in South Boston, VA are Manufacturing (639 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (417 people), and Educational Services (356 people), and the highest paying industries are Public Administration ($81,125), Manufacturing ($52,686), and Educational Services ($50,756).

Males in Virginia have an average income that is 1.33 times higher than the average income of females, which is $69,674. The income inequality in Virginia (measured using the Gini index) is 0.475, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

2.65k

2023 Value

± 392

−8.39%

1 Year decline

± 22.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in South Boston, VA declined at a rate of −8.39%, from 2.9k employees to 2.65k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in South Boston, VA, are Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (355 people), Production Occupations (327 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (261 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of South Boston, VA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

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

2.65k

2023 Value

± 392

−8.39%

1 Year decline

± 22.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in South Boston, VA declined at a rate of −8.39%, from 2.9k employees to 2.65k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in South Boston, VA, are Manufacturing (639 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (417 people), and Educational Services (356 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of South Boston, VA, though some of these residents may live in South Boston, VA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$42,136

Median earning men ± $6,377

$36,559

Median earning women ± $8,918

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($83,438), Manufacturing ($59,503), and Other Services Except Public Administration ($48,333).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($63,500), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($50,000), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($44,073).

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.

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

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for South Boston, VA. Showing the available data for Virginia.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (51.8%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (46.1%)
Republican Party
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.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Virginia

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Virginia.

Mark Warner

Senator from Virginia

Assumed office on January 3, 2009

Tim Kaine

Senator from Virginia

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.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Virginia

Virginia is currently represented by 11 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Virginia have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

Completions

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.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2022, 0.884% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.904% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.71M), Bachelors Degree (1.47M), and Some college (1.4M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in South Boston, VA was $157,300 in 2023, which is 0.518 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $143,100 to $157,300, a 9.92% increase. The homeownership rate in South Boston, VA is 49.5%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in South Boston, VA have an average commute time of 17 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in South Boston, VA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in South Boston, VA is $41,102. In 2023, the place with the highest median household income in South Boston, VA was Census Tract 9304 with a value of $62,583, followed by Census Tract 9305 and Census Tract 9308, with respective values of $53,423 and $40,368.

Housing

Property

$157,300

Median Property Value 2023

±$23,250

$1,584

Median Property Taxes

±$285

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 South Boston, VA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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

Rent vs Own

49.5%

Homeownership

2023

69%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 49.5% of the housing units in South Boston, VA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 53.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in South Boston, VA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9304
Census Tract 9305
Census Tract 9308

In 2023, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in South Boston, VA was Census Tract 9304 with a value of $62,583, followed by Census Tract 9305 and Census Tract 9308, with respective values of $53,423 and $40,368.

The following map shows all of the places in South Boston, VA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$41,102

Median Household Income

± $8,225

3.2k

Number of Households

± 432

In 2023, the median household income of the 3.2k households in South Boston, VA declined from $41,102 from the previous year's value of $49,654.

The following chart displays the households in South Boston, 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 < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for South Boston, VA is from Virginia.

0.475

2022 Wage GINI in Virginia

0.476

2021 Wage GINI in Virginia

In 2022, the income inequality in Virginia was 0.475 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.164% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (82%)
Carpooled (7.32%)
Other (6.2%)

In 2023, 82% of workers in South Boston, VA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (7.32%) and those who used some unspecified means to get work (6.2%).

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.

Commute Time

17 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in South Boston, VA have a shorter commute time (17 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 0% of the workforce in South Boston, VA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in South Boston, VA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in South Boston, VA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

26.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in South Boston, VA (1.88k out of 7.14k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females < 5, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 16 - 17.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in South Boston, VA is Black, followed by White and Asian.

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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

94.6% of the population of South Boston, VA has health coverage, with 28.4% on employee plans, 32.1% on Medicaid, 19.8% on Medicare, 13.1% on non-group plans, and 1.23% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Halifax County, VA see 2587 patients per year on average, which represents a 8.46% decrease from the previous year (2826 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2109 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 843 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Halifax County, VA.

2,587 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Halifax County, VA

Primary care physicians in Halifax County, VA see an average of 2,587 patients per year. This represents a 8.46% decrease from the previous year (2,826 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 26.5% under 18 years, 17.6% between 18 and 34 years, 31.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 24.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 40.4% were men and 59.6% were women.

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

Uninsured People

5.38%

Uninsured

28.4%

Employer Coverage

32.1%

Medicaid

19.8%

Medicare

13.1%

Non-Group

1.23%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in South Boston, VA declined by 10.2% from 5.99% to 5.38%.

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

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