Search Results

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.

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

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. Labor Force Information on the overall Northern Virginia immigrant population, as presented in the original report published in March 2020. Overall Information on the economic impact of immigrants during COVID-19, as presented in the addendum report published in October 2020. COVID-19

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). Student Enrollment Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Public School Student Enrollment of Northern Virginia Overview Northern Virginia experienced sustained public school enrollment growth from 2004 through 2019, increasing from 315,898 students to a peak of 423,670. Since 2019, enrollment has declined in four of the past six years, including the most recent school year. Student enrollment in 2025 totaled 405,457. Note, the annual enrollment figures reflect September 30th of each year. Key Highlights Declining Student to Total Population Share: Since 2019, both total enrollment and the student share of the population have fallen. The student share declined from 16.7% in 2019 to a low of 15.8% in 2024. The 2025 share is currently unavailable, but will be available in mid-2026 when population data for 2025 is released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Multiple Contributing Factors: Recent declines in public school enrollment reflect a combination of factors, including declining births and birth rates, an aging population, accelerated out-migration of families due to housing costs, and elevation participation in home-schooling and private education options post-COVID 19 pandemic. Generational Transition: Public school enrollment trends closely track regional birth patterns, typically with a five-year lag. Births and birth rates in Northern Virginia have declined steadily since 2007, resulting in progressively smaller elementary school enrollment since 2013. Larger pre-2013 cohorts that supported enrollment growth are graduating and being replaced by smaller student populations, making continued enrollment decline increasingly likely. Future Growth and Planning Northern Virginia is undergoing a generational transition in its student population. The larger student populations that entered school prior to 2013 and sustained growth through the 2010s are now graduating from the school system, while smaller student populations advance through each grade. Continued enrollment declines are increasingly likely over the next five to ten years. In the longer term, Northern Virginia is projected to have substantial population growth. The region's population exceeded 2.60 million in 2024 and is forecast to surpass 3 million by 2040, according to the NVRC Demographic and Economic Fact Sheet . However, aging of the population and declining birth rates are reducing the number of school-age children entering the public school system. In addition, higher housing costs and other economic pressures are contributing to slow in-migration of families and prompting families to move out of the region. These factors are expected to result in overall stagnation or declines in student enrollment for the region, but specific areas of the region with large amounts of residential development will have increased enrollment. In summary, a multitude of variables alter student enrollment trends, including new development, transfers to and from private schools, in- and out-migration rates, and size and composition of families in existing housing stock. With growth and demographic shifts comes challenges in maintaining the high quality of education and school facilities in the region. Ensuring the continued excellence of education necessitates strategic planning and the acquisition of land or facilities for future school development, which has become increasingly complex in the region due to the limited supply of available land.

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). 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.

Northern Virginia Coronavirus (COVID-19) vulnerable population analysis and maps. Track cases and testing of vulnerable populations and communities in Virginia and the Northern Virginia region. Find analysis, data, maps, demographics, dashboards, and story maps. - Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Coronavirus Vulnerable Populations Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Social Vulnerability The U.S. Center for Disease Control's (CDC) 2018 Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) indicates the relative social vulnerability of every Virginia census tract. Social vulnerability is a measure of an area's resilience when confronted by disease outbreaks like the coronavirus (COVID-19) and stress on human nature such as natural or man-made disasters. The SVI can be used by governments and non-government entities to identify communities that may need support. Click on image to go to dashboard Senior Population The senior population has been one of the most vulnerable population in the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. The senior population data and maps are a resource for government and non-government entities to identify communities in Virginia and the Northern Virginia region that may need support. Click on image to go to dashboard Immigrant Population The Immigration Study Dashboard provides a report published on October 21, 2020 that details 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. Click on image to download a copy of the report

Citizenship 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. Citizenship Key Facts Citizenship Immigrants in Northern Virginia have above average rates of naturalization 2013 to 2017 Period Key Facts: More than half, or 51.3 percent, of all immigrants in the region, have earned their U.S. citizenship. The Northern Virginia U.S. Citizenship rate of immigrants is higher than the national average of 48 percent. Further information about citizenship, from research NVRC has conducted separately from the One Region report, can be found on the People dashboard .

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

Northern Virginia town income, economically disadvantage populations, and more demographics, data and graphs. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Economics of Towns Economics of Towns Data There are 14 incorporated towns in Northern Virginia. For comparative purposes, Northern Virginia counties and cities, Commonwealth of Virginia, and United States data are provided in the graphs. About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation The economic data of incorporated towns is sourced from the 2000 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). All of the incorporated towns in N orthern 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. A town's margin of area for an ACS data piece can be found by hovering over the town's data in a graph. 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. Only data variables that are deemed relatively reliable have data provided at the town level. For instance, poverty data is unreliable for many towns in Northern Virginia so that data is not being provided. Median Household Income

Federal impact reports and studies on Northern Virginia, DC Metro Area, and Virginia. Federal Monitoring Reports/Resources NVRC Presentations School Planners Forum - June 4, 2025 Federal Impact on School Enrollment Presentation - NVRC's Senior Regional Demographer, Jill Kaneff, presented at the annual regional school planners forum hosted by Loudoun County Public Schools. The forum brought together school planners from across the D.C. region and beyond. Guidance on key demographic and economic indicators to monitor was provided to assist schools plan for the federal impacts on enrollment during these uncertain times caused by the federal layoffs and cutbacks. Virginia House Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, April 8, 2025 NVRC's Senior Regional Demographer, Jill Kaneff, and the NVRC Chair presented at the committee meeting. The Northern Virginia Federal Workforce presentation is an overview of Northern Virginia federal workforce and data resources available for policy makers and the general public. Economy Northern Virginia Economic Impacts Study - Published June 2025 Report commissioned by the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance (NOVA EDA). Northern Virginia Regional Commission partnered with the NOVA EDA on this report and was an active member in the report's research sub-committee. This report analyzes the significant economic and workforce impact of federal government layoffs in Northern Virginia (NOVA). The study models three potential workforce reduction scenarios: low impact (5 percent reduction), medium impact (10 percent reduction), and high impact (20 percent reduction). Report : Economic and Fiscal Effects of Federal Employee and Contractor Layoffs In Northern Virginia, June 2025 Virginia Economic Impacts The University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service produces a quarterly economic forecast for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The center also publishes special studies and presentations that focus on the federal impacts. View the Weldon Cooper Center's research reports. Housing Market Presentations D.C. Metropolitan Area Housing Market Trends and Outlook - Lisa Sturtevant, PhD, Chief Economist with Bright MLS, presented at the Loudoun County Public Schools Planners and GIS Forum on June 4, 2025. The forum brought together school planners from across the D.C. region and beyond. This presentation was part of a two set series on the federal impacts, with the first presentation being NVRC's presentation on Federal Impact on School Enrollment . Northern Virginia Association of Realtors The Northern Virginia Association of Realtor tracks and reports on the housing market conditions of the inner jurisdictions of Northern Virginia with data provided by George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis and Bright MLS. Features include monthly housing update reports and a new weekly regional tracker to monitor the impact of federal workforce changes. On an annual basis, a report on housing market forecasts is produced in conjunction with the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University (GMU-CRA).

Housing characteristics 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. Housing Characteristics Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Key Facts Housing Foreign born headed households, especially those on the lower end of the income spectrum have significantly larger household sizes than U.S. born headed households. COVID-19 More occupants per household present opportunities for transmission of COVID-19 among members within that household since COVID-19 is spread through close contact. Housing instability from the pandemic requires a very proactive role from local communities. 2014 to 2018 Five-Year Estimates Key Facts: Foreign born headed households, in general, are larger than U.S. Born headed households in Northern Virginia and its localities. Northern Virginia has a foreign born average household size of 3.22, while U.S. born headed is 2.39. The gap between the foreign born and U.S. born average household size in Northern Virginia shrinks with each higher income quintile, almost reaching parity at the top among the highest income households. The lowest income quintile has a gap of 0.9 persons per household, while the highest income quintile has a gap of 0.2 persons per household. The housing tenure of the foreign born in Northern Virginia is 58 percent owner and 42 percent renter. This distribution varies widely by locality. The innermost, urban localities of Arlington and Alexandria have a higher rate of renters than the outer, suburban localities. The housing type of the foreign born in Northern Virginia is 60.5 percent single-family, 37.5 percent multi-family, and 2.0 percent other. This distribution varies widely by locality. The innermost, urban localities of Alexandria and Arlington have a majority residing in multi-family and the outer, suburban localities have a majority residing in single-family. Explore housing topics by clicking on the tabs below