1st Advantage MortgageAbout 39% of Petersburg city homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $50,698. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Petersburg city
- Renting and owning in Petersburg city
- Household income in Petersburg city
- The Petersburg city job picture
- Regional comparison for Petersburg city
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Petersburg city
- Room for a loan payment in Petersburg city
- Before borrowing in Petersburg city
- More Petersburg city figures
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Petersburg city
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Petersburg city
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Petersburg city's population at 33,537; only 52 of Virginia's 133 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 23 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,476 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Richmond, VA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 1 Census place inside Petersburg city, Petersburg leads by population with about 33,537.
Renting and owning in Petersburg city
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,174 in Petersburg city versus $1,579 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. Home values center on $189,000, or 3.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 39% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1970.
| Home costs | Petersburg city | Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,174/mo | $1,579/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $189,000 | $383,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 39% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.4% | 4.3% | n/a |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Household income in Petersburg city
Half of Petersburg city households take in less than $50,698 a year and half take in more, 46% below the Virginia median of $93,170.
| Households earning | Petersburg city | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.7% | +15.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.4% | +13.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.2% | -14.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -15.0 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 18% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 21.7%, 12 points higher than the state's 9.9%. For a borrower in Petersburg city, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Petersburg city job picture
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 10.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 73% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 14.8% of the total (6.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Petersburg city share | +/- vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.2% | -6.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Petersburg city
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (4 to 17 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Petersburg city; Chesterfield County is highest at $101,931 and Hopewell city lowest at $54,729.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg city | - | $50,698 | $1,174/mo | 39% |
| Colonial Heights city, VA | 4 mi | $76,505 | $1,234/mo | 68% |
| Hopewell city, VA | 8 mi | $54,729 | $1,106/mo | 58% |
| Prince George County, VA | 10 mi | $84,897 | $1,594/mo | 74% |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 16 mi | $101,931 | $1,629/mo | 77% |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 16 mi | $83,704 | $1,224/mo | 80% |
| Henrico County, VA | 17 mi | $88,783 | $1,541/mo | 64% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Petersburg city
Petersburg is the only Census place mainly inside Petersburg city, with about 33,537 of the county's 33,537 residents. Live in one of these Petersburg city communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg | city | 33,537 | $50,698 | $1,174 | 0 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Petersburg city
How much room does a median Petersburg city budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $50,698 a year is $4,225 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,174, or 28 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $347 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Petersburg city land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Petersburg city
What the Petersburg city figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 22% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
More Petersburg city figures
25% of Petersburg city adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Petersburg city | Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.4% | 42.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.3% | 8.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.8% | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 18.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.7% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.0% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Petersburg city:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Petersburg city.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Petersburg city
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Petersburg city, check the Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Petersburg city earn?
The median is $50,698; 18% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Petersburg city?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,174 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Petersburg?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Petersburg city.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Petersburg city or elsewhere in Virginia, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Petersburg city residents?
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.