Williamsburg, VA · standard
ZIP Code 23188
James City County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 38,733
- 153/sq mi High-density area
- $103,160
- Median income Above-median income area
- $449,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 51.3%
- 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 rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 17%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 16%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 153
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23188 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 23188 (Williamsburg, VA) rose +3.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 253.9 in 2023 to 262.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 23188 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia, with 38,733 residents across 253.8 square miles, a density of 153 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 23188 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $103,160 (21% above the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $53,763. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 7.2% and unemployment is 2.7%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $449,900 (35% above the average Virginia ZIP), while 73.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,634.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 51.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49.5, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 2 more in James City County, so 23188 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 23188
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Williamsburg, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23188.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
224 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
156 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
153 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
149 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
128 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 23188, 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
38,733
Population
253.8
Area (sq mi)
153
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 23188?
49.5
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
8.1%
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?
$103,160
Median Household Income
+21% vs state ZIP avg
$53,763
Per Capita Income
7.2%
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Unemployment Rate
26.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 23188 ranks nationally
Williamsburg, VA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$103,160 Top 17% higher than 83% 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
20,504housing units
20,504
Total Housing Units
18,947
Occupied Units
1,557
Vacant Units
2.38
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$449,900
Median Home Value
+35% vs state ZIP avg
$1,634
Median Rent
2002
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
+3.5%
YoY Change (2024)
263
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+163%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 23188 have increased 3.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +163% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.6% | 180 |
| 2021 | +9.4% | 196 |
| 2022 | +10.5% | 217 |
| 2023 | +17.0% | 254 |
| 2024 | +3.5% | 263 |
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 1,274 business establishments in ZIP 23188, employing approximately 16,575 people with a combined annual payroll of $766,370,000.
1,274
Businesses
16,575
Employees
$766.4M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 224 | 17.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 156 | 12.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 153 | 12.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 149 | 11.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 128 | 10.1% |
| Construction | 104 | 8.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 86 | 6.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 86 | 6.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 65 | 5.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 33 | 2.6% |
| Educational services | 22 | 1.7% |
| Information | 20 | 1.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 16 | 1.3% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 0.9% |
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 23188 vs 23187 →
ZIP 23188 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
- 23168 6,115
Toano (23168)
6,115 residents
- 23089 4,914
Lanexa (23089)
4,914 residents
- 23011 1,429
Barhamsville (23011)
1,429 residents
- 23187 267
Williamsburg (23187)
267 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23188 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 23188 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23168
Toano (23168)
$137,481 median income
- 23011
Barhamsville (23011)
$128,606 median income
- 23089
Lanexa (23089)
$108,802 median income
- 23185
Williamsburg (23185)
$105,431 median income
- 23188
Williamsburg (23188)
$103,160 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 23188 ranks #5 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 23188, 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 (38,733 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 23188 in?
ZIP code 23188 (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 23188?
ZIP code 23188 in Williamsburg, VA has a population of 38,733 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23188?
The median household income in ZIP 23188 is $103,160, which is 35% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23188?
The median home value in ZIP 23188 is $449,900, which is 62% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23188?
The largest racial group in ZIP 23188 is White at 73.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23188?
ZIP code 23188 has 1,274 business establishments employing approximately 16,575 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23188?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23188 are: Retail trade (224), Health care and social assistance (156), Other services (except public administration) (153). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23188?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23188 increased by 3.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 163%. 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 23188?
In ZIP code 23188, 69.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 51.3% 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 23188?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23188 is 26.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 23188?
In ZIP code 23188, approximately 73.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23188?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23188 is 7.2% 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 23188's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 23188 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
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.