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  • Immigration Study Education | NOVADashboard | NVRC | Northern Virginia

    Internet access information compiled by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission's as part of the One Region immigration study, coronavirus (COVID-19) immigration study, and data dashboard to assess the economic impact of immigrants in Northern Virginia. Internet Access Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Key Facts Internet Access Limited or no internet access at home can lead to severe economic fallout, from limiting one's ability to work remotely to hindering a small business's transition to online. Limited or no internet access at home puts children in foreign-born households at risk of falling behind as schools hold classes online due to COVID-19. 2014 to 2018 Five-Year Estimates In total, 10.1 percent of Northern Virginians report lacking wired internet access at home. Either they are without any internet access (including no mobile) or they only have mobile access. Immigrants are disproportionately affected. Without Internet Access at Home 4.0 percent of Northern Virginians report lacking access to the internet at home. 6.1 percent of foreign born in Northern Virginia report lacking access to the internet at home, compared to 3.1 percent of U.S. born. Of those without internet access at home, 42.7 percent were foreign born. The total population of Northern Virginia is 27.6 percent foreign born. This indicates that immigrants are disproportionately affected. Only Mobile Access At Home 6.1 percent of Northern Virginians report having only mobile access to the internet at home. 7.7 percent of foreign born in Northern Virginia report lacking access to the internet at home, compared to 5.4 percent of U.S. born.

  • Education | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia educational attainment, public school student enrollment, and more demographics, data and graphs by region and county. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Education Information on education of the overall Northern Virginia region and its county and cities. Overall Information on education of Northern Virginia incorporated towns . Towns

  • People Race Overall | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia population growth, minority-majority transition, foreign born population transformation, and more demographics, data and graphs by region and county. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Race and Ethnicity Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Race and Ethnicity of Northern Virginia Overview A big story of the region is its racial and ethnic diversity and continuing diversification. Northern Virginia's racial and ethnic composition makes it more diverse today than the United State and Virginia and this has been the case for decades. Much of the continued diversification is attributed to the sizable increases in the number of Hispanics, Asians, and multiracial persons in the region. The following charts show the region's population by race and ethnicity, along with analyses of diversity for Northern Virginia and its counties and cities. Upcoming Changes to Categorization of Race/Ethnicity Race/ethnicity data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau is the primary source of race and ethnicity demographics. The U.S. Census Bureau currently collects race and ethnicity data based on the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards from 1997. New race/ethnicity standards were adopted by the Office of Management and Budget on March 28, 2024, the first such adoption since 1997. Changes are coming to how race and ethnicity information will be collected and reported in the United States. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau, must implement the new standards into data collections as soon as possible, but no later than March 28, 2029. The U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), a survey conducted annually, will be one of the first U.S. Census Bureau products to implement the new standards. As of July 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau was proposing to begin implementation of data collection in 2026 or 2027 for the ACS products. The 2030 Decennial Census will also reflect the new standards. The new race categories will offer individuals more precise ways to self-identify, especially for people who self-identify as multiracial or multiethnic. This will result in a more accurate representation of the U.S. population's race and ethnic characteristics. Changes will include a single combined question instead of separate race and ethnicity questions. Also, a new "Middle Eastern or North African" category will be added. These changes aim to better reflect the diversity of the American population. These changes will create challenges and implications for our understanding of the population and trends because the data will not be comparable to prior data. These modifications will alter the population size of subgroups. Specifically, the Census Bureau’s 2015 National Content Test results suggest anticipating increases in those identifying as Middle Eastern or North African, Hispanic or Latino, and Black or African American. Conversely, the number of individuals categorized as “white” or "some other race" is projected to decline. The combined race and ethnicity question is also expected to improve response rates for the race component on the decennial census and ACS forms. More information can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau's website . Decennial Census Data The Decennial Census is based on a survey of the entire population. It is conducted once a decade. The 2020 Decennial Census population was released on August 12, 2021. The Decennial Census regional, county, and city population data is shown in the interactive charts that follow. The 2020 Census had improvements to the design of the two separate questions for race and ethnicity, data processing, and coding, which enabled a more thorough and accurate depiction of how people prefer to self-identify. These changes along with actual demographic changes in the population result in the changes seen from 2010 to 2020 in the following data. For more details on the 2020 Census questionnaire changes and its impacts please view the U.S. Census Bureau's technical information . The following charts show the region's population by race and ethnicity, along with analyses of diversity for Northern Virginia and its incorporated towns. People of Hispanic/Latino origin are an ethnic group and may be of any race. To display Hispanic/Latino together with racial groups, it is common to cross-tabulate race and ethnicity to display Hispanic/Latino as a single category and the non-Hispanic race groups as categories that sum to the total population. This means of displaying race and ethnic data has become quite common and for available data, it is the closest categorization c ompared to the new race/ethnicity standards that were adopted by the Office of Management and Budget on March 28, 2024 (for more information see prior section ). With this classification, Hispanic/Latino is treated identically to major race groups and not independently of race. Also, Census Bureau research has shown that this classification is much less impacted by the 2020 Census questionnaire improvements. NVRC has migrated its demographic analysis to the cross-tabulated categories. The following charts, as well as the calculation of diversity, use the cross-tabulated categories.

  • Immigration Study | NOVA Region Dashboard| Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia Regional Commission's One Region immigration study, Coronavirus (COVID-19) immigration study, and dashboard assessing the economic impact of immigrants in Northern Virginia. The report and a dashboard of key demographic and economic findings from the report are found here. Immigration Study Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission was pleased to collaborate with the Partnership for a New American Economy (NAE) and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia on the study, One Region: Welcoming New Americans to Northern Virginia. The original study was published on March 12, 2020. It is a study of the economic impact of immigrants to the region. An addendum to the study was published on October 21, 2020 that provides immigrant data relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis response . The research was conducted by NAE. NAE has undertaken similar studies throughout the United States. This One Region report dashboard summarizes and reports on immigration in the Northern Virginia region. This dashboard provides quick access to key data pieces found in the report. This One Region immigration dashboard provides data not only of the overall Northern Virginia region, but also on the localities within the region . A webinar was hosted on October 21, 2020. For copies of the presentations and video recording go to the webinar webpage. Download a copy of the original report, published March 2020 Overview of the One Region Report The One Region report is a comprehensive picture of new Americans in Northern Virginia (NOVA). It highlights the size and rapid growth in the immigrant population in the region and their impact on the local economy, including injecting more money into local businesses, property markets, and municipal budgets as consumers, homebuyers, and taxpayers. Immigrants are major contributors to Northern Virginia's (NOVA) economy as highlighted in the report. The NOVA immigrant population is diverse. These people emigrate, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. “Immigrants are a vital part of the economic and social fabric of Northern Virginia. Their success is our success, and we must continue to be a welcoming community for all to ensure our long-term prosperity,” said P. David Tarter, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and Mayor of the City of Falls Church. Immigrants are an indispensable part of the local Northern Virginia economy at all levels, as workers, business owners, taxpayers and consumers. Trivia: What is the foreign born share of the population in NOVA? What is the foreign born share of the population in NOVA? Source: U.S Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates. 27.6% Immigrants widen and deepen the labor market with a vast array of skills and levels of expertise. They help businesses, farms, and factories fill workforce gaps at all levels of the labor market, allowing companies to meet market demands and expand their operations, which leads to more job creation. * Except where otherwise noted, the term “immigrant” and “foreign-born” are used interchangeably throughout the NOVA Region Dashboard and in the "One Region" report. COVID-19 Addendum One Region Report Addendum on COVID-19 Response This brief provides a glimpse at the role of immigrants in Northern Virginia during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the impact that the pandemic has had on the immigrant community. The immigrant population is especially vulnerable to gaps in our social safety nets. Understanding this population in Northern Virginia helps better inform local leaders as they aim to implement inclusive emergency response policies. The immigrant population is essential to our country’s rapid COVID-19 response efforts. Download a copy of the COVID-19 addendum report published October 2020 Data Charts and Key Findings by Report Topic (best viewed on desktop) The data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates, as well as other sources. The ACS is a survey based on a sample of the population. Sample surveys include a degree of uncertainty and error in the data. The larger the population and housing units of an area or data variable, the more reliable the ACS data. The Northern Virginia regional data is more reliable than the county level data that is presented in the data charts. Users should interpret the data by keeping this in mind. Citizenship Entrepreneurship Internet Access Economy Healthcare Language Spoken Education Housing Labor Force Additional Immigrant Information (best viewed on desktop) Further information about Northern Virginia's immigrant population, from research NVRC has conducted separately from the One Region report, can be found on the People dashboard. People There is a myriad of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide services to immigrants. A number of the local governments in Northern Virginia also provide links to information and services. Where to Get Help

  • Economics | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia income, economically disadvantage populations, workforce, and more demographics, data and graphs by region and county. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Economics Information on economics of the overall Northern Virginia region and its county and cities. Overall Information on economics of Northern Virginia incorporated towns . Towns

  • Immigration Entrepeneurship Overall | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Immigrant entrepreneurship data compiled by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission's as part of the One Region immigration study, Coronavirus (COVID-19) immigration study, and data dashboard to assess the economic impact of immigrants in Northern Virginia. Entrepreneurship - Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Key Facts Entrepreneurship - Overall Immigrants are job creators In Northern Virginia, immigrant entrepreneurs – those who work for their own businesses, incorporated or not – are making their mark locally. 2013 to 2017 Period Key Facts: 47,837 total estimated immigrant entrepreneurs 42.5 percent of all entrepreneurs in the region are immigrants.

  • Economically Disadvantaged Overall | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia town economically disadvantaged populations, poverty, free and reduced price school meal (FARM) student and more demographics, data and graphs. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Economically Disadvantaged Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Economically Disadvantaged of Northern Virginia While Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest median incomes in the United States, we must recognize that there are segments of the community in need of assistance that live in one of the most prosperous regions in the country. Poverty The Northern Virginia region has some of the highest household incomes in the United States. However, there are persons in poverty in the region, and their needs must be recognized and addressed. The poverty rates of all counties and cities in Northern Virginia are shown in the following graphs. The poverty rate is the ratio of the number of persons in poverty divided by the number of persons for whom poverty status was determined. Not everyone had their poverty status determined so this figure will be less than the total population. About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Poverty data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). It is important to note that any data sourced from the ACS is based on a small sample of the population of a place. Areas with smaller populations, such as the cities of Northern Virginia, may have a larger margin of error in the data due to the survey sample size being small. This is less of an issue the larger the population. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. If there is a large increase or decrease in the estimate from one time period to the next, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and is not considered statistically significant. In addition to the margin of error, the accuracy of the American Community Survey data for an area can be gaged by evaluating the trend. If the data has a clear trend then the data from one period to the next can be deemed reliable Poverty Rate - Current Five-Year Estimates Northern Virginia's poverty rate is 6.0%, compared to 9.9% for Virginia and 12.5% for the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. All jurisdictions in the United States are included in the five-year American Community Survey estimates. Out of all 3,144 jurisdictions in the USA, two of the fifteen lowest poverty rates are located in the Northern Virginia localities of Falls Church (8th) and Loudoun County (12th). Loudoun County and Falls Church are also the 1stt and 11th ranked for median household income, respectively. However, there are persons in poverty in Loudoun, Falls Church, and the rest of the region, and their needs must be recognized and addressed. Poverty Rate - Current One-Year Estimates Those jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more are included in the one-year American Community Survey estimates. The poverty rates for the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are shown in this graph. The Northern Virginia regional poverty rate was 6.1% in 2024, which is nearly half the poverty rate of the nation. Out of the 850 jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more in the USA, one of the twenty lowest poverty rates is located in the Northern Virginia locality of Loudoun County (20th). Loudoun County is also the number one ranked for median household income. However, there are persons in poverty in Loudoun and the rest of the region and their needs must be recognized. Poverty Rate - Historic Compared to Current Five-Year Estimates Northern Virginia's poverty rate has experienced a similar pattern to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States over time. From 1999 to the 2010-2014 period there was an increase in the percent of persons in poverty. The rate in poverty has gradually lessened since the 2010-2014 period, reaching 6.0% in the 2020-2024 period. Poverty Rate - Historic Compared to Current One-Year Estimates The poverty rate patterns over time, for the regions large jurisdictions (population of 65,000 or more), are shown in the following graph. The Northern Virginia regional poverty rate, for the one-year estimates, represents the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. The persons in poverty data has large year-to-year fluctuations due to the small sample size of the survey, together with the small amount of persons in poverty. The margins of error (displayed in the graph pop-ups), are large for the poverty one-years estimates, making any poverty trends undiscernible. However, the low to high ranges of poverty over time for each jurisdiction and the region, and comparisons between jurisdictions and the region can be gleaned. For instance, Northern Virginia's poverty rate has ranged from approximately 6% to 7% between 2010 and 2024, and Loudoun County’s poverty rate has been consistently lower than the other large jurisdictions. Given the unreliability of single-year poverty estimates, utilization of five-year estimates are strongly recommended for all Northern Virginia jurisdictions and the region when analyzing trends, planning, and developing policies. The American Community Survey 5-year estimates have a significantly larger sample size.

  • People / Population Overall | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia population growth, minority-majority transition, foreign born population transformation, and more demographics, data and graphs by region and county. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Population Overall Population of Northern Virginia Data Northern Virginia is on the front lines of a demographic transformation shaping the United States. There has been an extraordinary amount of population growth in Northern Virginia. The April 1st Decennial Census population of Northern Virginia was 1,466,350 in 1990, 1,815,197 in 2000, 2,230,623 in 2010, and 2,550,377 in 2020. On July 1, 2025 the Northern Virginia population was estimated to be 2,628,004. Detailed information on the region and its counties and cities are available on the following population topics . Population Total Migration Births/Deaths Foreign Born Race and Ethnicity

  • Immigration Entrepeneurship | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Economic data compiled by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission's as part of the One Region immigration study, Coronavirus (COVID-19) immigration study, and dashboard to assess the economic impact of immigrants in Northern Virginia. Entrepreneurship Information on the overall Northern Virginia immigrant population, as presented in the original report published in March 2020. Overall Information on the Northern Virginia economic impact of immigrants during COVID-19, as presented in the addendum report published in October 2020. COVID-19

  • NOVA Region Dashboard | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Demographic and economic data, reports, and resources covering Northern Virginia. Compiled and analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. NOVA Region Dashboard Northern Virginia Regional Commission This dashboard provides detailed information about the Northern Virginia community's demographics, economics, and the people who live and work in Northern Virginia. This dashboard is maintained by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission . All data on this dashboard is best viewed on a desktop computer. Check back here regularly to see new analyses and finding. If we can help you with your data needs, please give us a call at 703-642-0700 or send us an email . Reports/Resources Federal Monitoring 2020 Census People Education Economics

  • People Race of Towns | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia town population growth, minority-majority transition, foreign born population transformation, and more demographics, data and graphs. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Race and Ethnicity of Towns Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Race and Ethnicity of Towns Overview A big story of the region is its diversification and majority-minority transition. There will soon be a day when the majority of people will belong to a minority group (any group other than non-Hispanic White alone). Much of this is attributed to the sizable increases in the number of Hispanics, Asians, and multiracial persons in the region. The following charts show the region's population by race and ethnicity, along with analyses of diversity for Northern Virginia and its incorporated towns. Upcoming Changes to Categorization of Race/Ethnicity Race/ethnicity data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau is the primary source of race and ethnicity demographics. The U.S. Census Bureau currently collects race and ethnicity data based on the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards from 1997. New race/ethnicity standards were adopted by the Office of Management and Budget on March 28, 2024, the first such adoption since 1997. Changes are coming to how race and ethnicity information will be collected and reported in the United States. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau, must implement the new standards into data collections as soon as possible, but no later than March 28, 2029. The U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), a survey conducted annually, will be one of the first U.S. Census Bureau products to implement the new standards. As of July 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau was proposing to begin implementation of data collection in 2026 or 2027 for the ACS products. The 2030 Decennial Census will also reflect the new standards. The new race categories will offer individuals more precise ways to self-identify, especially for people who self-identify as multiracial or multiethnic. This will result in a more accurate representation of the U.S. population's race and ethnic characteristics. Changes will include a single combined question instead of separate race and ethnicity questions. Also, a new "Middle Eastern or North African" category will be added. These changes aim to better reflect the diversity of the American population. These changes will create challenges and implications for our understanding of the population and trends because the data will not be comparable to prior data. These modifications will alter the population size of subgroups. Specifically, the Census Bureau’s 2015 National Content Test results suggest anticipating increases in those identifying as Middle Eastern or North African, Hispanic or Latino, and Black or African American. Conversely, the number of individuals categorized as “white” or "some other race" is projected to decline. The combined race and ethnicity question is also expected to improve response rates for the race component on the decennial census and ACS forms. More information can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau's website . Decennial Census Data The Decennial Census is based on a survey of the entire population. It is conducted once a decade. The 2020 Decennial Census population was released on August 12, 2021. The Decennial Census regional, county, and city population data is shown in the interactive charts that follow. The 2020 Census had improvements to the design of the two separate questions for race and ethnicity, data processing, and coding, which enabled a more thorough and accurate depiction of how people prefer to self-identify. These changes along with actual demographic changes in the population result in the changes seen from 2010 to 2020 in the following data. For more details on the 2020 Census questionnaire changes and its impacts please view the U.S. Census Bureau's technical information . The following charts show the region's population by race and ethnicity, along with analyses of diversity for Northern Virginia and its incorporated towns. People of Hispanic/Latino origin are an ethnic group and may be of any race. To display Hispanic/Latino together with racial groups, it is common to cross-tabulate race and ethnicity to display Hispanic/Latino as a single category and the non-Hispanic race groups as categories that sum to the total population. This means of displaying race and ethnic data has become quite common and for available data, it is the closest categorization c ompared to the new race/ethnicity standards that were adopted by the Office of Management and Budget on March 28, 2024 (for more information see prior section ). With this classification, Hispanic/Latino is treated identically to major race groups and not independently of race. Also, Census Bureau research has shown that this classification is much less impacted by the 2020 Census questionnaire improvements. NVRC has migrated its demographic analysis to the cross-tabulated categories. The following charts, as well as the calculation of diversity, use the cross-tabulated categories.

  • Education Attainment Overall | Northern Virginia Regional Commission

    Northern Virginia educational attainment, public school student enrollment, and more demographics, data and graphs by region and county. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Educational Attainment Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Educational Attainment of Northern Virginia Overview Northern Virginia localities are home to some of the most highly educated residents in the nation. This high education level of the region's citizens creates a strong, flourishing business community. The percentage of Northern Virginia's population age 25 or more holding a bachelor's or higher degree is 61.9%, which is nearly double the United States, and holding a graduate or professional degree is 30.2%, which is more than double the United States. About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Educational attainment data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). It is important to note that any data sourced from the ACS is based on a small sample of the population of a place. Areas with smaller populations, such as the cities of Northern Virginia, may have a larger margin of error in the data due to the survey sample size being small. This is less of an issue the larger the population. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. If there is a large increase or decrease in the estimate from one time period to the next, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and is not considered statistically significant. In addition to the margin of error, the accuracy of the American Community Survey data for an area can be gaged by evaluating the trend. If the data has a clear trend then the data from one period to the next can be deemed reliable. Educational Attainment - Current Bachelor's or Higher Degrees - Current Five-Year Estimates All jurisdictions in the United States are included in the five-year American Community Survey estimates. The percentage of residents age 25 or older with bachelor's or higher degrees, for all jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, are displayed in the following graph. Out of all 3,144 jurisdictions in the USA, six of the twenty highest ranked for the percentage of residents age 25 or older with bachelor's or higher degrees are located in Northern Virginia. Those include the City of Falls Church (1st), Arlington County (2nd), the City of Alexandria (4th), Fairfax County (5th), Loudoun County (8th), and Fairfax City (16th). Overall, Northern Virginia's share is 61.9% for residents age 25 or older with bachelor's or higher degrees, which is signicantly higher than Virginia and nearly twice the USA. Bachelor's or Higher Degrees - Current One-Year Estimates Those jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more are included in the one-year American Community Survey estimates, of which there are five Northern Virginia jurisdictions included. The share of residents age 25 or older with bachelor's or higher degrees for the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are shown in this graph. The Northern Virginia regional data, for the one-year estimates, is representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. Out of the 850 jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more in the USA, four of the top seven for the percentage of residents age 25 or older with bachelor's or higher degrees are located in Northern Virginia. Those include Arlington County (1st), the City of Alexandria (2nd), Fairfax (4th), and Loudoun (7th). Graduate or Professional Degrees - Current Five-Year Estimates All jurisdictions in the United States are included in the five-year American Community Survey estimates. The percentage of residents age 25 or older with graduate or professional degrees, for all jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, are displayed in the following graph. Out of all 3,144 jurisdictions in the USA, six of the twenty highest ranked in the percentage of residents age 25 or older with graduate or higher degrees are located in Northern Virginia. Those include the City of Falls Church (1st), Arlington County (3rd), the City of Alexandria (6th), Fairfax County (11th), City of Fairfax (18th), and Loudoun County (19th). Overall, Northern Virginia's share is 30.2% for residents age 25 or older with graduate or professional degrees, which is nearly double Virginia and more than double the USA. Graduate or Professional Degrees - Current One-Year Estimates Those jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more are included in the one-year American Community Survey estimates. The percentage of residents age 25 or older with graduate or professional degrees for the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are shown in this graph. The Northern Virginia regional data, for the one-year estimates, is representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. Out of the 850 jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more in the USA, four of the 25 highest ranked for the percentage of residents age 25 or older with graduate or professional degrees are located in Northern Virginia. Those include Arlington (1st), the City of Alexandria (3rd), Fairfax (9th), and Loudoun (21st). Educational Attainment - Historic Compared to Current Bachelor's or Higher Degrees - Historic Compared to Current Five-Year Estimates Northern Virginia is one of the most educated places in the United States. Since 2000, the region's population has experienced an upward trend in the share of persons age 25 and older , becoming even more highly educated than it already was. Northern Virginia's age 25 and older population holding bachelor's or higher degrees in 2000 was 50.7% and in the 2020-2024 period was 61.9%, compared to the United States which was 24.4% and 35.7% respectively. The considerable growth of the highly educated contributes to a flourishing and robust business community in Northern Virginia. Bachelor's or Higher Degrees - Historic Compared to Current One-Year Estimates The trend in persons age 25 and older holding a bachelor's or higher degree, for the regions large jurisdictions (population of 65,000 or more), are shown in the following graph. The Northern Virginia regional data, for the one-year estimates, is representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. Graduate or Professional Degree - Historic Compared to Current Five-Year Estimates Northern Virginia's age 25 and older population holding professional and graduate degrees in 2000 was 22.1% and in the 2020-2024 period it was 30.2%, compared to the United States which was 8.9% and 14.1% respectively. The considerable growth of the highly educated contributes to a flourishing and robust business community in Northern Virginia. Graduate or Professional Degree - Historic Compared to Current One-Year Estimates The trend in persons age 25 and older holding a graduate or professional degree, for the regions large jurisdictions (population of 65,000 or more), are shown in the following graph. The Northern Virginia regional data, for the one-year estimates, is representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only.

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