What it's like to live in Poquoson
Poquoson is a small city in Virginia with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, a growing population, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Poquoson deals with rent well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Poquoson compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Poquoson
Based on Poquoson's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,414
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $68,280 a year
- 64% of Poquoson renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$80,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,030
- Homes cost 3.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 21% above US
$1,707/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,707 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $400,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $400,300 · 64% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 33% below US
2.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.9%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 18% below US
270 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 909/100k · Poquoson Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Monroe National Monument (9 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Poquoson's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,707/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers.
Other places near Poquoson
All Virginia guides →Moving to Gloucester Point →
14 mi away · pop. 11,109
Rent $1,062/mo · Income $74,001
Compare with Poquoson →Moving to Newport News →
14 mi away · pop. 184,216
Rent $1,339/mo · Income $69,634
Compare with Poquoson →Not sure Poquoson is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.