PlainZIP

Petersburg, VA · standard

ZIP Code 23803

Petersburg County, Virginia — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

40,542
217/sq mi
$57,813
Median income
$230,400
Median home value
24.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Petersburg pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

25th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 48%
home value, US ZIPs
217
people per sq mi
51%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23803 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 23803 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 187.2 square miles in Petersburg, Petersburg County, Virginia. The area is home to 40,542 residents, producing a population density of 217 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 23803 against Virginia and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 23803 sits at $57,813 (32% below the Virginia average), while per-capita income is $30,256. The poverty rate stands at 21.9% and the unemployment rate at 10.7%. On housing, the median home value is $230,400 (31% below the state average) with median rent at $1,178 per month, and 51.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 23803 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 24.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles, so you can benchmark 23803 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 23803

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23803.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 23803, Petersburg, VA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

40,542

Population

187.2

Area (sq mi)

217

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 23803?

36.4

Median Age

47.4%

Male

52.6%

Female

4.3%

Foreign-Born

White 33.6%
African American 57.6%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.6%
Hispanic or Latino 6.7%

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?

$57,813

Median Household Income

-32% vs state

$30,256

Per Capita Income

21.9%

Poverty Rate

10.7%

Unemployment Rate

26.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 23803 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$57,813 25th percentile higher than 25% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 58.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

19,925

Total Housing Units

16,767

Occupied Units

3,158

Vacant Units

2.34

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 51.1%
Renter 48.9%

$230,400

Median Home Value

-31% vs state

$1,178

Median Rent

1974

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

+5.0%

YoY Change (2024)

266

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+166%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 23803 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +166% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.8% 180
2021 +9.9% 198
2022 +17.6% 233
2023 +9.0% 253
2024 +5.0% 266

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 670 business establishments in ZIP 23803, employing approximately 9,194 people with a combined annual payroll of $448,311,000.

670

Businesses

9,194

Employees

$448.3M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 124 18.5%
Other services (except public administration) 107 16.0%
Health care and social assistance 86 12.8%
Accommodation and food services 70 10.4%
Construction 61 9.1%
Transportation and warehousing 36 5.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 32 4.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 30 4.5%
Manufacturing 29 4.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 29 4.3%
Wholesale trade 22 3.3%
Finance and insurance 17 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 1.2%
Educational services 6 0.9%
Information 5 0.8%
Utilities 3 0.5%
Industries not classified 3 0.5%

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 23803 vs 23806 →

ZIP 23803 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23803 ranks the most populous — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 23803 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 23803 ranks #7 of 7 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
23806 Virginia State University, VA 2,251 3.9 mi
23885 Sutherland, VA 2,807 5.6 mi
23834 Colonial Heights, VA 25,612 6.8 mi
23831 Chester, VA 33,079 9.4 mi
23805 Petersburg, VA 19,490 7.4 mi
23801 Fort Lee, VA 3,393 8.2 mi
23836 Chester, VA 11,444 11.8 mi

Related Areas

Petersburg County Petersburg, VA Virginia

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 23803 in? ▼
ZIP code 23803 (Petersburg) is located in Petersburg County, Virginia. Petersburg County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/petersburg-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 23803? ▼
ZIP code 23803 in Petersburg, VA has a population of 40,542 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23803? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 23803 is $57,813, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23803? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 23803 is $230,400, which is 17% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23803? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 23803 is African American at 57.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23803? ▼
ZIP code 23803 has 670 business establishments employing approximately 9,194 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23803? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23803 are: Retail trade (124), Other services (except public administration) (107), Health care and social assistance (86). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23803? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23803 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 166%. 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 23803? ▼
In ZIP code 23803, 58.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.4% 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 23803? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23803 is 26.3 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 23803? ▼
In ZIP code 23803, approximately 51.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 48.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23803? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23803 is 21.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Petersburg, VA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.