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Privacy Policy Overview Information we collect and how we use it Date of last revision: 03/04/21 The following information explains the Internet Privacy Policy and practice for the novaregiondashboard.com website, but shall not be interpreted as a contract of any nature, either stated or implied. We reserve the right to amend our Internet Privacy Policy statement at any time without notice. Note that this policy only applies to pages on the novaregiondashboard.com website. The website has links to those operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you move via such links to another website, this policy will not apply. Customer comments or review If you have questions about this privacy statement or the practices of this website, please contact us at info@novaregiondashboard.com . Protection of information via established security procedures We maintain security standards and procedures to prevent unauthorized removal or alteration of data, to ensure that this service remains available to all users, and to prevent unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage. These security standards also prevent data storage, data transfers, and unauthorized security and access. WARNING: Unauthorized attempts to modify any information on this website, to defeat or circumvent security features or to utilize this system for other than its intended purposes are prohibited and may result in criminal prosecution. Information on attempts to circumvent security measures will be traced and released to the appropriate legal authorities (such as the Virginia State Police) to investigate suspected or alleged criminal activity. novaregiondashboard.com Internet Privacy Policy Virginia law We protect our records in accordance with our obligations as defined by applicable Virginia statutes, including, but not limited to, the “Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act,” Chapter 38 of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia (§ 2.2-3800 and 2.2-3803), “Administration of systems including personal information; Internet privacy policy; exceptions” Code of Virginia, § 2.2-3803, the “Virginia Freedom of Information Act” § 2.2-3700, et seq., and by any applicable U.S. federal laws. Any personal information that is collected and retained is maintained in compliance with the statute. Information we collect We collect only the minimum amount of information needed to provide services. If you do nothing during your visit to the novaregiondashboard.com website but browse or download information, we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit: The Internet domain and IP address from which you accessed our site; The type of browser and operating system you used; The date and time you visited this site; The pages visited; and If you arrived from another website, the address of that website. The information in our weblogs is not personally identifiable, and no attempt is made to link it with the individuals that browse our website. If during your visit, you send us an e-mail message, we will collect the e-mail address and contents of the message, including audio, video and graphic information formats you send us. This may be to respond to you, to address issues you identify, to further improve our website, or to forward your message to another agency for appropriate action. We do collect personal information directly from individuals who volunteer to complete forms or participate in surveys, in order to deliver the services requested. We only collect, retain and use personal information where we believe it is essential to administer our business and to provide products, services and other opportunities requested by our customers. How the collected information is used Your input is used to improve the content of our web services and to help us understand how people are using our pages. Routing information is used to send requested web pages to your computer for viewing. Transaction routing information is used primarily in a statistical summary format to assess content and server performance. We may share this summary information with our business partners when needed. We may keep your information indefinitely, but we ordinarily delete routing information regularly after the web page is transmitted. However, on rare occasions when a “hacker” attempts to breach computer security, logs and any other relevant information in our possession may be shared with law enforcement agencies. Optional information is retained in accordance with the records retention schedule at the Library of Virginia. Under the “Virginia Freedom of Information Act” (FOIA), any records in our possession at the time of a “Freedom of Information Request” might be subject to inspection by or disclosure to members of the public. However, identifiable personal information will be removed prior to such release in accordance with FOIA. Restrictions on the disclosure of customer information We do not sell or rent our subscribers’ information to any outside company or organization. We do not reveal specific information about users or other personally identifiable data to unaffiliated third parties for their independent use, except if required to do so by FOIA or other law. Cookies “Cookies” are small files either stored on a server or sent back to a visiting computer. In certain applications, user information is stored as cookies, which are then sent back to and stored on the user’s computer. Some sections of the website use cookies to customize the information presented to you. Cookies are also used to aggregate site usage information to help us improve our users’ experience. Copyright The copyright to the novaregiondashboard.com website is owned by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and pages are marked with the notice “© Northern Virginia Regional Commission.” Permission is granted to website visitors to make fair use of the contents, as per http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html. If you are in doubt about whether your use constitutes fair use, please send a request for explicit permission to copy the contents by emailing info@novaregiondashboard.com. Linking Policy This website contains links to external websites and pages containing information created and maintained by public and private organizations. The inclusion of a link to an external website is not intended as an endorsement of any product or service offered or referenced on the linked website, the organizations sponsoring said website or any views that might be expressed or referenced in the website. Links to external websites and pages may be removed or replaced at any time without notice. Disclaimer Neither the Northern Virginia Regional Commission nor any state employee warrants the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or outdated. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or other mark does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. The information and statements contained on this site shall not be used for the purposes of advertising, nor to imply the endorsement or recommendation of the 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). Population of Towns Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Population of Towns Overview 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, some of it being in incorporated towns. The town of Purcellville has nearly tripled in size since 2000. The town of Lovettsville has more than tripled in size since 2000. The towns of Leesburg and Haymarket have populations that have nearly doubled since 2000. Annual Estimates/Trends Decennial Census/Trends Annual Pop Towns Annual Estimates Data Annual estimates of population paint a portrait of the annual growth patterns in the towns of Northern Virginia. Annual estimates are not based on a full census of the population. Rather they are estimates based on a compilation of multiple administrative data pieces such as birth records and residential building permits. Deccenial Pop Towns Decennial Census Data The Decennial Census is based on a survey of the entire population. It is conducted once a decade. The Decennial Census town population data is shown in the interactive charts that follow.

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.

Northern Virginia unemployment claims data and charts for monitoring the federal cutback impacts. Unemployment Claims Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Unemployment Claims Unemployment initial and continued claims serve as an indicator of economic health. Initial unemployment claims measure the number of people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continued unemployment claims measure the number of people who already filed an initial claim in a prior week and have subsequently filed a continued claim for unemployment benefits because they continue to be unemployed. The weekly data provides policymakers and economists with the timeliest data about labor market conditions, often foreshadowing broader economic conditions that are reported on a monthly basis in state and federal job reports and databases. About the Data 1. Claims are filed in the jurisdiction where the employee worked. During a filing, each state and the District of Columbia are required to collect place of residence. This collected data is reported and exchanged between the U.S. Department of Labor and the states and the District of Columbia. The following data represents place of residence of the worker filing a claim . It does not represent place of work where the claim was initially filed. 2. Federally filed claims have reporting delays of several weeks or months because a claim is not classified as a federal (UCFE) claim until federal wages are confirmed. Also, individuals who are on administrative leave with pay or voluntarily quit do not qualify for unemployment benefits. Therefore, a large number of federal employees laid off in the first half of 2025 have yet to qualify or be officially confirmed for unemployment claims benefits. ***Friday Updates*** Claims data representing place of residence is submitted by Virginia Employment Commission to the U.S. Department of Labor. This dashboard is updated on Fridays.

Immigrant healthcare coverage 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. Healthcare Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Key Facts Healthcare Access to healthcare and medical services is critical for well-being A healthy population and a healthy workforce are essential to a thriving community regardless of immigration status. To overcome this pandemic, it is vital that communities look at creative ways to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy. 2014 to 2018 Five-Year Estimates Key Facts: The foreign born make up a significant share of those lacking health insurance. Approximately 1 out of 5 foreign born persons are uninsured in Northern Virginia, which is significantly higher than the U.S. born population uninsured rate. Approximately 1 out of 20 U.S. born are uninsured. Foreign born make up almost 65 percent of all uninsured in Northern Virginia, while the overall foreign born population is 27.6 percent. The foreign born are clearly disproportionately burdened. Central American countries and Mexico, which are generally Hispanic, make up the largest share of the foreign born population without insurance in Northern Virginia.

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

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. Economy Key Facts Economy Immigrants hold billions of dollars in economic power and contribute billions to the Northern Virginia economy As Virginia's economy continues to expand, businesses and firms will require more workers across all skill levels to stay competitive and productive. As a tight labor market, with some of the lowest levels of unemployment in the country according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2017 annual averages, much of the labor needed to meet Northern Virginia's demand for workers comes from outside the region, U.S born and immigrant alike. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 2017 Estimates (in 2017 Inflation Adjusted Dollars) How many billions of dollars do immigrants contribute to the NOVA GDP? How many billions of dollars do immigrants contribute to the NOVA GDP? Source: National Association of Counties, Data Explorer, 2019. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. NAE Analysis of the 2013-2017 American Community Survey, 5-Year Sample, downloaded from IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org . 57.7 Billion What is the total household earnings and tax contributions of NOVA's immigrants? What is the total household earnings and tax contributions of NOVA's immigrants? Total Household Earnings $28.3 Billion State & Local Taxes Paid $2.1 Billion Federal Taxes Paid $5.9 Billion Source: NAE analysis of the 2013-2017 American Community Survey,5-Year Sample, downloaded from IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota, www.ipums.org ; ITEP, “Who Pays?”; Congressional Budget Office; U.S. Social Security Administration.

Northern Virginia economic monitoring of the 2025-2029 presidential administration's federal cutbacks. Analysis conducted by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Federal Monitoring Federal Monitoring of Northern Virginia Northern Virginia has approximately 12 percent of its residents employed in the federal government. The federal government budgetary cutback and job layoffs that the new presidential administration began implementing in January 2025 will have deep economic impacts on the region. Detailed information for understanding and monitoring the federal impacts is available on the following topics . Fact Sheet Reports/Resources Maps Safety Net Participants Unemployment Claims Local Area Economic Statistics

Immigration services and help for the Northern Virginia region. Listing of immigration services maintained by Northern Virginia Regional Commission found on NOVA Region Dashboard. Where to Get Help? Help to Immigrants There are a myriad of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide services to immigrants, including refugees. A number of the local governments in Northern Virginia also provide links to information and services. Alexandria City American Civil Liberties Union - Virginia Affiliate American Red Cross Arlington County Government Ayuda CAIR Coalition CASA de Virginia Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington - Hogar Immigrant Services Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc. Fairfax County Government Just Neighbors Ministry Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington Legal AID Justice Center Literacy Council of Northern Virginia Loudoun Literacy Council Lutheran Social Services - Refugee and Immigration Services (Falls Church Office) Northern Virginia Family Services SCAN of Northern Virginia Tahirih Justice Center The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium Uceda English Institute of Virginia US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants VOICE

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.

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 towns 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 of Towns Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Educational Attainment of Towns 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. 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 not considered statistically significant and is likely due to statistical sampling error. 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 The population age 25 or over with bachelor's or higher degrees of the counties, cities, and incorporated towns in Northern Virginia is shown in this graph. All towns, except for Dumfries, have higher percentages of bachelor's or higher degree holders than the United States and Commonwealth of Virginia. The towns of Clifton and Vienna have higher percentages of bachelor's or higher degree holders than Northern Virginia overall. Graduate or Professional Degrees - Current The population age 25 or over with graduate or professional degrees of the counties, cities, and incorporated towns in Northern Virginia is shown in this graph. The towns of Clifton and Vienna have higher percentages of graduate or professional degree holders than Northern Virginia overall. Educational Attainment - Historic Compared to Current Bachelor's or Higher Degrees - Historic Compared to Current The trend over time in the population age 25 or over with bachelor's or higher degrees in Northern Virginia and its incorporated towns are shown in this graph. Due to the small size of many towns, the educational attainment data of towns should be used with caution and the margin of error of the educational attainment data 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. Graduate or Professional Degree - Historic Compared to Current The trend over time in the population age 25 or over with graduate or professional degrees in Northern Virginia and its incorporated towns are shown in this graph. Due to the small size of many towns, the educational attainment data of towns should be used with caution and the margin of error of the educational attainment data 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.