Williamsburg, VA · standard
ZIP Code 23185
James City County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 46,370
- 320/sq mi High-density area
- $105,431
- Median income Above-median income area
- $429,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 51.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Williamsburg pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 16%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 18%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 320
- people per sq mi
- 72%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23185 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 23185 (Williamsburg, VA) rose +7.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 237.6 in 2023 to 255.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 23185 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia, with 46,370 residents across 145.0 square miles, a density of 320 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 23185 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $105,431 (23% above the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $50,928. The poverty rate is 9.0%, with unemployment at 4.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $429,500 (28% above the average Virginia ZIP), while 71.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,489.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 51.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.2, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 2 more in James City County, so 23185 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 23185
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Williamsburg, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23185.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
235 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
182 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
148 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
145 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
112 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 23185, Williamsburg, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
46,370
Population
145.0
Area (sq mi)
320
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 23185?
40.2
Median Age
48.0%
Male
52.0%
Female
8.4%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$105,431
Median Household Income
+23% vs state ZIP avg
$50,928
Per Capita Income
9.0%
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Unemployment Rate
23.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 23185 ranks nationally
Williamsburg, VA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$105,431 Top 16% higher than 84% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
22,873housing units
22,873
Total Housing Units
20,134
Occupied Units
2,739
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$429,500
Median Home Value
+28% vs state ZIP avg
$1,489
Median Rent
1990
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.3%
YoY Change (2024)
255
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+155%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 23185 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +155% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.2% | 177 |
| 2021 | +6.8% | 189 |
| 2022 | +17.8% | 223 |
| 2023 | +6.7% | 238 |
| 2024 | +7.3% | 255 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,314 business establishments in ZIP 23185, employing approximately 22,437 people with a combined annual payroll of $989,933,000.
1,314
Businesses
22,437
Employees
$989.9M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 235 | 17.9% |
| Retail trade | 182 | 13.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 148 | 11.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 145 | 11.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 112 | 8.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 106 | 8.1% |
| Construction | 81 | 6.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 78 | 5.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 63 | 4.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 32 | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 29 | 2.2% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 1.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 23 | 1.8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 23 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 15 | 1.1% |
| Information | 13 | 1.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 23185 vs 23187 →
ZIP 23185 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23185
Williamsburg (23185)
46,370 residents
- 23188
Williamsburg (23188)
38,733 residents
- 23604 5,720
Fort Eustis (23604)
5,720 residents
- 23603 3,899
Newport News (23603)
3,899 residents
- 23883 2,551
Surry (23883)
2,551 residents
- 23187 267
Williamsburg (23187)
267 residents
- 23691 127
Yorktown (23691)
127 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23185 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 23185 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23185
Williamsburg (23185)
$105,431 median income
- 23188
Williamsburg (23188)
$103,160 median income
- 23603
Newport News (23603)
$88,246 median income
- 23604
Fort Eustis (23604)
$80,047 median income
- 23883
Surry (23883)
$76,719 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 23185 ranks the highest of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 23185, both outside VA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (46,370 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in James City County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 23185 in?
ZIP code 23185 (Williamsburg) is located in James City County, Virginia. James City County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/james-city-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 23185?
ZIP code 23185 in Williamsburg, VA has a population of 46,370 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23185?
The median household income in ZIP 23185 is $105,431, which is 38% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23185?
The median home value in ZIP 23185 is $429,500, which is 54% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23185?
The largest racial group in ZIP 23185 is White at 71.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23185?
ZIP code 23185 has 1,314 business establishments employing approximately 22,437 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23185?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23185 are: Accommodation and food services (235), Retail trade (182), Professional, scientific, and technical services (148). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23185?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23185 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 155%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 23185?
In ZIP code 23185, 68.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 51.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 23185?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23185 is 23.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 23185?
In ZIP code 23185, approximately 71.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23185?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23185 is 9.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 23185's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 23185 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Williamsburg, VA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.