Emporia, VA · standard
ZIP Code 23847
Greensville County, Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 16,962
- 23/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $51,168
- Median income Below-median income area
- $139,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Emporia pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 16th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 22nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 23
- people per sq mi
- 53%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 23847 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 23847 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Emporia, Greensville County, Virginia, home to 16,962 residents across 728.0 square miles, a density of 23 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 23847 reports a modest median household income of $51,168 (40% below the average Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,650. The poverty rate is 13.4%, with unemployment at 4.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $139,300 (58% below the average Virginia ZIP), and median rent is $992; owner occupancy is 53.3%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.2, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 2 more in Greensville County, so 23847 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 23847
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Emporia, VA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 23847.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
66 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
46 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
36 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
35 establishments
- Construction 13
Construction
13 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 23847, Emporia, 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
16,962
Population
728.0
Area (sq mi)
23
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 23847?
37.2
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
3.9%
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?
$51,168
Median Household Income
-40% vs state ZIP avg
$27,650
Per Capita Income
13.4%
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
26.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 23847 ranks among Virginia ZIPs
Emporia, VA household income vs. every Virginia ZIP code
Median household income among 804 reporting Virginia ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$51,168 17th percentile higher than 17% of 804 Virginia ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Virginia 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
6,223housing units
6,223
Total Housing Units
4,897
Occupied Units
1,326
Vacant Units
2.57
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$139,300
Median Home Value
-58% vs state ZIP avg
$992
Median Rent
1973
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
+8.1%
YoY Change (2024)
205
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+105%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 23847 have increased 8.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +105% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +7.0% | 134 |
| 2020 | -2.4% | 130 |
| 2021 | +9.4% | 143 |
| 2022 | +8.1% | 154 |
| 2024 | – | 205 |
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 291 business establishments in ZIP 23847, employing approximately 5,042 people with a combined annual payroll of $202,567,000.
291
Businesses
5,042
Employees
$202.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 66 | 22.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 46 | 15.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 36 | 12.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 12.0% |
| Construction | 13 | 4.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 13 | 4.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 13 | 4.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13 | 4.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 4.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 3.8% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 2.8% |
| Information | 8 | 2.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 2.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 1.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 1.4% |
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 23847 vs 23879 →
ZIP 23847 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23847
Emporia (23847)
16,962 residents
- 23867 2,189
Jarratt (23867)
2,189 residents
- 23879 679
Skippers (23879)
679 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 23847 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 23847 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 23867
Jarratt (23867)
$61,155 median income
- 23879
Skippers (23879)
$51,250 median income
- 23847
Emporia (23847)
$51,168 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 23847 ranks #3 of 3 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 23847, 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 (16,962 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Greensville County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 23847 in?
ZIP code 23847 (Emporia) is located in Greensville County, Virginia. Greensville County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/greensville-va.
What is the population of ZIP code 23847?
ZIP code 23847 in Emporia, VA has a population of 16,962 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 23847?
The median household income in ZIP 23847 is $51,168, which is 33% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 23847?
The median home value in ZIP 23847 is $139,300, which is 50% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 23847?
The largest racial group in ZIP 23847 is African American at 63.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 23847?
ZIP code 23847 has 291 business establishments employing approximately 5,042 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 23847?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 23847 are: Retail trade (66), Health care and social assistance (46), Other services (except public administration) (36). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 23847?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 23847 increased by 8.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 105%. 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 23847?
In ZIP code 23847, 54.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.2% 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 23847?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 23847 is 26.6 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 23847?
In ZIP code 23847, approximately 53.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 46.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 23847?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 23847 is 13.4% 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 23847's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 23847 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Emporia, 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.