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Language spoken and Limited English Proficiency LEP)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. Language Spoken Key Facts Language Spoken Understanding the population with language barriers is particularly critical for the quick and accurate dissemination of health, safety, and public information. 2014 to 2018 Five-Year Estimates Key Facts: There are an estimated 584,000 people in Northern Virginia who live in a household where English is not spoken at home as the primary language. Of those, 31.2 percent of the population age five and over speak Spanish at home. Of those, the second most spoken language is Korean at 5.5 percent. There are an estimated 134,200 people in Northern Virginia who report speaking English less than well, making up 5.4 percent of the region's total population.

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). Foreign Born and Immigrants of Towns Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Foreign Born and Immigrant Population of Towns Overview The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is one of the most diverse in the country when taking into consideration the minority and foreign born (immigrant) population make-up. Northern Virginia contains a sizable amount of the metropolitan area's diverse population. The foreign born or immigrant population is transforming the region and many of it's towns. Note, the terms foreign born and immigrant are used interchangeably throughout the NOVA Region Dashboard. It is immigration that has been driving many of the major demographic trends in the region, including: School enrollment changes Sizable increases in the number of Hispanics and Asians Population and labor force growth About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Foreign born population data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census and the American Community Survey. All of the incorporated towns in Northern Virginia have a population of less than 65,000 persons. One-year ACS estimates do not exist for incorporated places with a population of less than 65,000. All incorporated towns and places in the United States are included in the five-year ACS estimates. It is important to note that any data sourced from the ACS is based on a small sample of the population of a place. The ACS estimates for places with smaller populations such as Clifton, Dumfries, Hamilton, Haymarket, Hillsboro, Lovettsville, Middleburg, and Quantico can be unreliable if the margin of error is large. 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. Foreign Born Population - Current Foreign Born Population Share - Current The region's highest ranked county/city is Manassas Park City, ranking 8th in the nation at 36.8%. Herndon boasts one of the largest foreign-born populations in the country, at 42.2%. Statistically, Herndon is not significantly different from Manassas Park due to the data's margins of error. Towns that are estimated to have lower foreign born population shares than the Commonwealth of Virginia are all located within rural Loudoun County (Lovettsville, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill), except for Clifton which is located in rural Fairfax County. Note, the town of Hillsboro's 2020-2024 estimate of 29.1% foreign born is considered highly unreliable. This is evidenced by the large rise compared to previous five-year periods, as shown in the Historic Compared to Current chart in the next section. It is additionally reinforced by the wide margin of error of +/-37.6%, which stems from the town's small survey sample size. Foreign Born Population - Historic Compared to Current Foreign Born Population Share - Historic Compared to Current Immigration has been driving many of the major demographic trends in the region. The foreign born population is transforming the region. Northern Virginia's population was 21.4% foreign born in 2000 and has risen to 28.2% currently. The largest transformations since 2000 have occurred in the towns of Dumfries, Haymarket, Leesburg, Lovettsville, and Occoquan. All of these incorporated towns are located in the outer-core, which is where the majority of the region's growth has occurred. Note, the American Community Survey is a survey with a small sample size. Due to the small size of many Northern Virginia towns and small sample size of the survey, the median household income of towns should be used with caution and the margin of error of the median household income should be taken into consideration. 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 the data should be used with caution. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. 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 does not have a clear trend, 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 the data should be used with caution.

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.

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). Safety Net Participants Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Safety Net Participants 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. Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010. More than 151,000 residents in Northern Virginia in 2024 received health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) expenditures in Northern Virginia from 2011 to 2024 are shown in this graph, and the participants are shown in the tables below. Since 2011, the peak amount of expenditures was reached in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic downturn. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and its impact on the Northern Virginia region was significant from a health and economic standpoint. The temporary boost to SNAP benefits put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as emergency allotments, ended nationwide after the February 2023 issuance. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and TANF-UP (TANF Unemployed-Families) expenditures in Northern Virginia from 2019 to 2024 are shown in this graph, and the participants are shown in the tables below. Since 2019, the peak amount of expenditures was reached in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic downturn. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and its impact on the Northern Virginia region was significant from a health and economic standpoint. For additional information on the TANF and TANF-UP programs view the Virginia Department of Social Services's TANF program flyer . Medicaid Expansion The Medicaid Expansion Dashboard, which is maintained by the Virginia Department Medical Assistance Services , shows new health coverage for adults by overall enrollment, age, gender, family income, locality and region of residence.

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 Overall Education Data of Northern Virginia What is it that sets Northern Virginia apart from other places, that gives Northern Virginia its competitive edge, that makes it such a unique, dynamic and interesting place? It’s unparalleled human capital, the people who live here, work here, and come here from all corners of the globe. Proximity to the nation’s capital has transformed Northern Virginia and the entire Washington metropolitan area into one of America’s — and the world’s — most dynamic, fastest growing, economically advanced, highly-educated , prosperous, and culturally-diverse regions on the planet. The region has some of the top, most renowned public school systems in the nation. The quality of education in the region's public school systems draws numerous amounts of families to the region. The demographic, social, and economic profile of this region shows it. Detailed information on the region and its counties and cities are available on the following education topics . Educational Attainment Student Enrollment

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). Population of Towns Population of Towns Data There are 14 incorporated towns in Northern Virginia. Detailed information on the incorporated towns are available on the following population topics. For comparative purposes, Northern Virginia counties and cities, Commonwealth of Virginia, and United States data are included. Population Total Foreign Born and Immigrants Race and Ethnicity

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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). Foreign Born and Immigrants Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Foreign Born and Immigrant Population of Northern Virginia Overview The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is one of the most diverse in the country when taking into consideration the racial, ethnic, and foreign born (immigrant) population make-up. Northern Virginia contains a sizable amount of the metropolitan area's diverse population. The foreign born or immigrant population is transforming the region. Note, the terms foreign born and immigrant are used interchangeably throughout the NOVA Region Dashboard. Immigration has been driving demographic transformations in the region , including: School enrollment changes Sizable increases in the number of Hispanics and Asians Population growth Employment growth About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Foreign born population 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. Foreign Born Population - Current Foreign Born Population Share - Current Five-Year Estimates All jurisdictions in the United States are included in the five-year American Community Survey estimates. The share of the population that is foreign born, for all jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, is displayed in this graph. Northern Virginia's foreign born population share is 28.2%, which is on par with New York County, New York (Manhattan). All of Northern Virginia jurisdiction's have a foreign born population share that is greater than the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. Out of all 3,144 jurisdictions in the USA, all Northern Virginia jurisdictions are ranked #165 or higher. The region's highest ranked are Manassas Park City (8th), Manassas City (21st), Fairfax County (24th), and Fairfax City (25th), each of which have a greater foreign born population share than New York County, New York (Manhattan) (28.2% and 39th) and Orange County, California (30.4% at 28th). Foreign Born Population Share - 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 share of the population that is foreign born for the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are shown in this graph. The Northern Virginia foreign born figures for the one-year estimates are representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. The regional foreign born population share is 28.5%. This is greater than New York County, New York (Manhattan) (27.9%), and only 3.1 percentage points less than Orange County, California (31.6%). All of Northern Virginia's five largest jurisdictions have a foreign born population share that is significantly greater than the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. Out of the 850 jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more in the USA, all of Northern Virginia's large jurisdictions are ranked in the top fifty. The Counties of Fairfax and Loudoun have a share that is greater than Manhattan. Foreign Born Population - Historic Compared to Current Foreign Born Population Share - Historic Compared to Current Five-Year Estimates Immigration has been driving many of the major demographic shifts in the region. Northern Virginia's population was 21.4% foreign born in 2000 and has risen to 28.2% in the 2020-2024 period. Similar to today, back in 2000 all Northern Virginia jurisdictions had a foreign born population share that was greater than the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. The greatest transformations have occurred in the four outer-core jurisdictions of Loudoun, Manassas City, Manassas Park, and Prince William. The outer-core of the region also accounts for a majority of the region's overall population growth, as indicated in the population growth charts . Foreign Born Population Share - Historic Compared to Current One-Year Estimates The foreign born population trend, for the regions large jurisdictions (population of 65,000 or more), is shown in the following graphs. The legal status of non-citizens is unknown and not collected by the U.S. Census Bureau in any of its data sets. Key Facts: Northern Virginia, as defined for this analysis using the region's five largest jurisdictions, experienced an increase in the foreign born population and the share from 2011 to 2017. The foreign born population share increased from 25.5% to 28.6% respectively. From 2017 to 2021 it trended down, reaching a low of 27.2% in 2021. The decline from 2017 to 2021 was attributable to the 2017 to 2021 presidential administration's reforms to immigration policy, as well as the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic led to a drop in the region's population between 2020 and 2021 because of out-migration of residents, elevated death rates, and slowing immigration As the pandemic eased in 2022 and the 2021 to 2025 presidential administration implemented less restrictive immigration policies, both national and regional immigration increased. These two factors led to increased national and regional immigration. This boosted the foreign-born population and its share. The citizenship status chart provides additional insights into the decline in the overall foreign-born population from 2017 to 2021 and the resurgence through 2024. The decline from 2017 to 2021 was largely attributable to the non-citizen populations migrating out of the area in greater amounts than naturalized citizens moving into the area. The resurgence is attributed to the non-citizen population increasing. The naturalized citizen population of the region, on the other hand, remained steady from 2022 to 2024. Loudoun and Prince William Counties, since 2010, have had significant increases in their foreign born population and trended upward in the share of the total population that is foreign born. Fairfax County's foreign born population share has been the largest in the region since 2010. It trended up from 2010 to 2017, reaching a high of 32.1% in 2017. From 2017 to 2021 it trended down, reaching its lowest point in that period at 29.9% in 2021. It then trended up. By 2024 the share had yet to reach the 2017 level. In 2024 it was 30.9%.

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.

Immigrant labor force 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. Labor Force: COVID-19 Pandemic Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Key Facts Labor Force - COVID-19 Immigrants are heavily represented among the region's frontline essential and healthcare workforce fighting against the virus and keeping the region running. Workers in essential industries are typically unable to work remotely, increasing their risk of exposure to the disease. Workers in non-essential industries have been severely affected by the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak, especially those who cannot work remotely or whose places of work depend normally on face-to-face interaction. 2014 to 2018 Period Key Facts: More than an estimated 410,000 workers in Northern Virginia work in essential industries and occupations. 47.9 percent of all essential workers in Northern Virginia are foreign born. The total population of Northern Virginia is 27.6% foreign born. This indicates that immigrants are disproportionately affected. More than 40 percent of all essential healthcare workers in Northern Virginia are foreign born. Within essential healthcare occupations, foreign born makes up more than half of all nursing assistants, personal care aides, lab technologists and technicians, and licensed practical or vocational nurses. 38.7 percent of all non-essential industry workers in Northern Virginia are foreign born. STEM work is vital to Northern Virginia's economy. Foreign born workers comprise more than half of financial services and more than one quarter of transportation, retail trade, educational services, and healthcare and social services. Explore labor force topics by clicking on the tabs below

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

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). Median Household Income Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Median Household Income of Northern Virginia Overview Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest median incomes in the United States, including the county with the highest in the nation. High median household incomes coincide with the large, thriving business community of the Northern Virginia region. While the median household income is high, it must be recognized that there are segments of the community in need of assistance that live in this prosperous region of the country and that high housing costs offset the high income when it comes to standards of living and well-being. About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Median household income 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. Median Household Income - Current Five-Year Estimates All jurisdictions in the United States are included in the five-year American Community Survey estimates. The Median household incomes for all Northern Virginia jurisdictions are shown in this graph. The median household income of every Northern Virginia jurisdiction is higher than the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. Out of all 3,144 jurisdictions in the USA, four of the 12 highest ranked for median household income are in Northern Virginia, and those include Loudoun County (1st), Fairfax County (4th), Falls Church City (11th), and Arlington (12th). Northern Virginia's median household income, at an estimated $149,502 (in 2024 dollars), is higher than 11th ranked Falls Church, making Northern Virginia one of the most affluent regions of the USA. Median Household Income - 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. The median household incomes for the five largest Northern Virginia jurisdictions are shown in this graph. The Northern Virginia median household income for the one-year estimates is representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. The five largest jurisdictions of Northern Virginia all have incomes higher than the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States. Out of the 850 jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more in the USA, three of the top twenty highest income jurisdictions are located in Northern Virginia, and those include Loudoun County (1st), Fairfax County (4th), and Arlington County (19th). The median household income of Northern Virginia's five largest jurisdiction together is estimated to be $149,502 (in 2024 dollars), making Northern Virginia one of the most affluent areas of the USA. Median Household Income - Historic Compared to Current Five-Year Estimates The Northern Virginia region's median household income had been rising since 1999 until it dropped in the 2020-2024 period. Since 1999, the greatest upward transformations in median household income, to levels well beyond inflation, have occurred in the Counties of Arlington and Loudoun. Median Household Income - Historic Compared to Current One-Year Estimates The median household income trend, for the regions large jurisdictions (population of 65,000 or more), are shown in the following graph. The Northern Virginia regional household income distribution for the one-year estimates is representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. Key Facts: There were dips in median household income in the early 2010s for some jurisdictions. The effects of the recession from 2007 to 2009 were still causing economic hardships and in 2013 there was federal sequestration when the federal government made large budget cuts. The Northern Virginia region is heavily dependent on the federal government for its economy, as indirectly indicated by the job layoffs during sequestration causing a sharp decline in household incomes. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically from 2012 to 2019, the trend in the Northern Virginia median household income was an upward trend after adjusting for inflation. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 triggered a wave of demographic and economic shifts both regionally and nationally. Between 2019 and 2023 there was a downward trend in the region's median household income after accounting for inflation. Nationally, wage growth outpaced inflation from 2019 through early 2021, lagged behind from early 2021 to mid-2023, and again began to outpace inflation from mid-2023 through 2024. Given that Northern Virginia's downward trend spanned 2019 to 2023, the steady decline is attributable primarily to underlying demographic shifts of this period rather than wages failing to keep pace with inflation. Notably, NVRC research has shown that workers retired early and many middle income office workers moved to more affordable areas as remote work surged. Between 2023 and 2024, median household income in the region increased after adjusting for inflation, similar to the national pattern of wages exceeding inflation. Policymakers have comprehensively addressed low-income housing to 80% or 100% of the HUD Area Median Income (AMI). However, the out-flow of young adult workers since the pandemic has underscored the need to expand first-time homebuyer housing programs to serve middle-income households earning up to 120% of the AMI and increase middle-income housing supply to enable first-time home buyers to afford comfortable living and family life in the region. A two-person household is a typical household size for first-time home buyers starting a family and would need to earn approximately $150,000 at 120% AMI to afford to purchase a starter home. Starter homes at this income level are limited in the region which is why more solutions are needed for the 120% AMI and under households. For further information on these demographic shifts, see the NVRC report Shifting Migration Patterns of Northern Virginia: Affordable Housing Needs published January 2025.