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Living in
Petersburg.
About
Life in Petersburg
If you're considering Petersburg, understand that you're looking at a smaller city in transition rather than a booming growth market. The median household income is around $50,700 and median home values hover near $189,000, which means housing is genuinely affordable compared to Richmond or most East Coast metros—but that reflects the city's economic reality, not hidden opportunity. The commute to Richmond is reasonable at under 27 minutes on average if you work there, and rail service connects you to Norfolk and beyond.
Petersburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.7%
Foreign-Born
4.5%
Broadband Internet
85.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Petersburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Petersburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (22.2%), and 5.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
16.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
50.4%
of households
Married Couples
18.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Petersburg
In Petersburg, rent runs 26% below the VA average, and home values are 51% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,523
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
38.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $249,074 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts above VA average
Unemployment in Petersburg and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Petersburg is 1.6 percentage points higher than the VA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Petersburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Richmond, VA metro area
Commute25.7 min avg
How Petersburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Petersburg, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 114 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 175% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Petersburg runs 175% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
906.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,937.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Petersburg Police Department
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
17.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Petersburg County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Petersburg, the most common type is flash flood, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Flash Flood | $5.1M |
| 2024 | 4 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | Winter Weather | $4,000 |
| 2021 | 8 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 6 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2019 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2018 | 8 | Winter Weather | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Petersburg city, county-wide
Air Quality6 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hopewell city, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 8 miles from Petersburg) is typically good — 48 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
6
Good Days
48
per year
Moderate Days
0
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hopewell city, VA (8 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Petersburg has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.5"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
85
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 28°F | 3.02" |
| Feb | 52°F | 29°F | 2.70" |
| Mar | 60°F | 36°F | 4.37" |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 3.62" |
| May | 78°F | 55°F | 4.37" |
| Jun | 86°F | 64°F | 4.23" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.70" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 5.31" |
| Sep | 82°F | 61°F | 4.63" |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 3.41" |
| Nov | 62°F | 37°F | 3.16" |
| Dec | 53°F | 31°F | 3.47" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Petersburg
Petersburg has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Bon Secours Southside Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Hiram W Davis Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals
Poplar Springs Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
John Randolph Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Hopewell
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Petersburg
Petersburg's student/teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Petersburg (within 15 miles)
Southside College of Health Sciences
4.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 151 students · 78% graduate · median earnings $77,002 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Petersburg National Battlefield, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Petersburg
Petersburg has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Petersburg National Battlefield (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Petersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
5 mi awayRichmond National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
20 mi awayMaggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
35 mi awayColonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
42 mi awayYorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
49 mi awayFort Monroe National Monument
National Monument
61 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
72 mi awayPublic Libraries in Petersburg
Petersburg Public Library
201 W. Washington St., Petersburg
Cities Near Petersburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Petersburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Petersburg FAQ
Is Petersburg, Virginia affordable?⌄
Petersburg's median rent is $1,174/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $50,698/year. Median home value is $189,000.
Is Petersburg, Virginia safe?⌄
Petersburg's violent crime rate was 906 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2937 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Petersburg, Virginia?⌄
Petersburg has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Petersburg, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Petersburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,174/month and median household income is $50,698/year. The median home value is $189,000. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Petersburg, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Petersburg is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from