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 High-density area
- $57,813
- Median income Below-median income area
- $230,400
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 23803 (Petersburg, VA) rose +5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 253.4 in 2023 to 266.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 23803 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Petersburg, Petersburg County, Virginia, with 40,542 residents across 187.2 square miles, a density of 217 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 23803 reports a modest median household income of $57,813 (32% below the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,256. Economic pressure is pronounced: 21.9% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 10.7%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $230,400 (31% below the average Virginia ZIP), and median rent is $1,178; owner occupancy is 51.1%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page surfaces 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles, giving 23803 an immediate geographic comparison rather than a national benchmark alone.
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 23803
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Petersburg, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23803.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
124 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
107 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
86 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
70 establishments
- Construction
Construction
61 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 23803, Petersburg, 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
40,542
Population
187.2
Area (sq mi)
217
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 23803?
36.4
Median Age
47.4%
Male
52.6%
Female
4.3%
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?
$57,813
Median Household Income
-32% vs state ZIP avg
$30,256
Per Capita Income
21.9%
Poverty Rate
10.7%
Unemployment Rate
26.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 23803 ranks nationally
Petersburg, VA 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
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
19,925housing units
19,925
Total Housing Units
16,767
Occupied Units
3,158
Vacant Units
2.34
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$230,400
Median Home Value
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 23803
Petersburg (23803)
40,542 residents
- 23831
Chester (23831)
33,079 residents
- 23834
Colonial Heights (23834)
25,612 residents
- 23805
Petersburg (23805)
19,490 residents
- 23836 11,444
Chester (23836)
11,444 residents
- 23801 3,393
Fort Lee (23801)
3,393 residents
- 23885 2,807
Sutherland (23885)
2,807 residents
- 23806 2,251
Virginia State University (23806)
2,251 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23803 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 23803 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23885
Sutherland (23885)
$103,849 median income
- 23836
Chester (23836)
$100,921 median income
- 23831
Chester (23831)
$95,750 median income
- 23834
Colonial Heights (23834)
$84,338 median income
- 23801
Fort Lee (23801)
$82,563 median income
- 23805
Petersburg (23805)
$60,807 median income
- 23803
Petersburg (23803)
$57,813 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 23803, 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 (40,542 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 23803's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 23803 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Petersburg, 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.