Buena Vista city, Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Buena Vista city, Virginia had an estimated 6,581 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 6,641, across 7 square miles. 109 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 1 7(a) approvals worth $400,000 since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Buena Vista city
How many people live in Buena Vista city
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20246,593
- Households2,554
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$57,833
- Median age35.9
- Median gross rent$1,112 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$156,200
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income23.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over4,073
- Population under 181,452
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over1,240
- Share 65 and over18.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 643,901
- Civilian labor force2,863
- Unemployment rate1.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.7 percent
- Rank by population among Virginia independent cities125th of 133
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2768th of 3,222
Buena Vista city is the 125th largest of 133 Virginia independent cities by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.0 percent against 18.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Buena Vista city
Is Buena Vista city's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20246,581
- Census 2020 base population6,641
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.90 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20247
- Births, 202486
- Deaths, 2024102
- Natural change, 2024-16
- Net domestic migration, 202432
- Net international migration, 2024-8
- Total net migration, 202424
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202455
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2159th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.90 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Buena Vista city
Where are people moving to Buena Vista city from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving226
- People arriving, from those returns443
- Tax returns filed by households leaving244
- Net household movement-18
- Adjusted gross income arriving$11.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$919,000
- Average income of an arriving household$51,438
- Average income of a leaving household$43,877
- Largest single originRockbridge County (74 households)
- Largest single destinationRockbridge County (72 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockbridge County | 74 | 160 | $2.4 m |
Households arriving report $7,561 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Rockbridge County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Buena Vista city
Employment by industry in Buena Vista city
- Covered employment, annual average2,512
- Establishments reporting161
- Average annual pay$51,168
- Average weekly wage$984
- Manufacturing, employment961
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$68,497
- Retail trade, employment139
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,674
- Other services, except public administration, employment32
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$34,480
- Finance and insurance, employment19
- Finance and insurance, average annual pay$55,232
- Construction, employment14
- Wholesale trade, employment9
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 961 | 10 | $68,497 |
| Retail trade | 139 | 16 | $31,674 |
| Other services, except public administration | 32 | 10 | $34,480 |
| Finance and insurance | 19 | 7 | $55,232 |
| Construction | 14 | 7 | $52,116 |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 3 | $62,008 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 5 | $23,629 |
| Unclassified establishments | 4 | 1 | $13,545 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 961 jobs, 38.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Buena Vista city
How many businesses are in Buena Vista city?
- Establishments, all industries109
- Employment at those establishments2,141
- Annual payroll$90.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents16.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Buena Vista city
Building permits in Buena Vista city
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202418
- Declared construction value permitted$3.2 m
- Single family units authorized14
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units22.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$180,333
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.0
Single-family homes are 77.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Buena Vista city
SBA loans in Buena Vista city (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded1
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$400,000
- Average 7(a) approval$400,000
- Median 7(a) approval$400,000
- Largest single approval$400,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1
- Jobs per approval1.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active1
- Distinct industries receiving approvals1
- Median 7(a) term300 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer100.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter0
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$104,000
- Average 504 approval$104,000
- Median 504 approval$104,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval0.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved0.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$504,000
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buena Vista city
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Buena Vista city
Do SBA loans in Buena Vista city get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded0
- Paid in full0
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure1
Only 0 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buena Vista city
How large is Buena Vista city?
- Land area7 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Virginia independent cities126th of 133
- Width, east to west2.9 mi
- Height, north to south4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary1
- Residents per square mile of land942
- Establishments per square mile15.57
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Buena Vista city
Flood risk in Buena Vista city
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Buena Vista, city ofParticipating, community 510027
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Buena Vista city, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, the City of Buena Vista (community 510027), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Buena Vista city in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Buena Vista city site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Buena Vista city site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20246,593
- Households2,554
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$57,833
- Median age35.9
Common questions
Buena Vista city questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Buena Vista city, Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 6,581 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 6,593, in 2,554 households, ranking 125th of 133 Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Buena Vista city's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.90 percent since the 2020 census base of 6,641, to 6,581 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 86 births against 102 deaths, with net migration of 24. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Buena Vista city?
$57,833. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,200, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,112 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Buena Vista city?
109 establishments, employing 2,141 people with an annual payroll of $90.0 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Buena Vista city?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 961 jobs, 38.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 2,512 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,168, or $984 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Buena Vista city?
1 7(a) approvals totaling $400,000 since FY2020, across 1 lenders, with a median approval of $400,000, plus 1 504 approvals worth $104,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Buena Vista city?
18 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.2 m. Multifamily was 22.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Buena Vista city?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Buena Vista city come from?
The largest single origin is Rockbridge County, with 74 households. Arriving households report an average income of $51,438 against $43,877 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Buena Vista city on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Buena Vista city?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
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