Census ACS 5-Year · 18 metrics compared
North Carolina vs Virginia
North Carolina and Virginia compared across 18 demographic and economic metrics. Virginia leads in 10 of the comparable categories.
3
North Carolina wins
10
Virginia wins
| Metric | North Carolina | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,584,340 | 8,657,499 |
| Median Age | 39.1 | 38.8 |
| Median Household Income | $69,904 | $90,974 |
| Per Capita Income | $39,616 | $49,217 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.4% | 6.8% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 2.7% |
| Median Home Value | $259,400 | $360,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,162 | $1,514 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.4% | 67.2% |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 34.7% | 41.5% |
| High School+ | 89.7% | 91.3% |
| Work From Home | 14.5% | 16.2% |
| Avg Commute (min) | 25.1 | 27.6 |
| White | 63.3% | 61.7% |
| Hispanic | 2.3% | 1.4% |
| Black | 20.6% | 18.7% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Foreign Born | 35.7% | 36.0% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
North Carolina has a population of 10,584,340 compared to Virginia's 8,657,499.
Across the metrics compared, North Carolina leads in 3 categories while Virginia leads in 10. However, "better" depends on what matters most to you, income, cost of living, education, climate, and personal preferences all play a role.
All data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates by the US Census Bureau.
Comparison based on American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Green highlighting indicates the "better" value where applicable (higher income is better, lower poverty is better, etc.). Race and ethnicity metrics are not highlighted as there is no "better" value.
Comparing North Carolina and Virginia on U.S. population demographics requires lining up the underlying the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data side by side. The table above runs the comparison on the canonical fields; the narrative below identifies the factor or factors that drive the most meaningful difference between the two.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.