What are the schools like in Petersburg, VA?

Petersburg is served primarily by Petersburg City Public Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Petersburg?

The median household income in Petersburg, VA is $46,930 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.3%.

What is the weather like in Petersburg, VA?

Petersburg has an average high temperature of 49.1°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.5 inches.

Petersburg, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Petersburg, VA affordable or expensive?

Petersburg's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Petersburg is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $147,200 and the median rent is $1,082 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Petersburg, VA?

Petersburg has a violent crime rate of 1043.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2889.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Petersburg, VA a Good Place to Live?

Petersburg is a small city of 33,261 in Virginia, with a median household income of $46,930 and a 11.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Petersburg stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Petersburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Petersburg city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.0

Petersburg's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Petersburg costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Petersburg, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$147,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,082	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	37.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,930	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Petersburg's violent crime rate is 1043.6 per 100,000 residents — 175% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1043.6 /100k

Property Crime

2889.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Petersburg is served primarily by Petersburg City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Petersburg, VA	National Avg
School District	Petersburg City Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Petersburg sees average highs of 49.1°F in January and 89.3°F in July, with 47.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Petersburg, VA
Average High — January	49.1°F
Average High — July	89.3°F
Annual Precipitation	47.0"
Annual Snowfall	3.5"

Demographics

Metric	Petersburg, VA	National Avg
Population	33,261	—
Median Age	36.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	16.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	77.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	22.1%	22.2%
65 and over	16.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ettrick, VA 4 mi Fort Lee, VA 4 mi Colonial Heights, VA 4 mi Matoaca, VA 5 mi Prince George, VA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Petersburg

Petersburg, VA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

23805 23803

Petersburg vs Other Cities

Petersburg, VA vs Ettrick, VA Petersburg, VA vs Fort Lee, VA Petersburg, VA vs Colonial Heights, VA Petersburg, VA vs Matoaca, VA Petersburg, VA vs Prince George, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Petersburg, VA affordable or expensive?

Petersburg's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Petersburg roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $147,200 and median rent is $1,082/month.

What is the crime rate in Petersburg, VA?

Petersburg's violent crime rate is 1043.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2889.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Petersburg?

Public schools in Petersburg are operated by Petersburg City Public Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Petersburg, VA a good place to live?

Petersburg, VA has a population of 33,261, a median household income of $46,930, and an unemployment rate of 11.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Petersburg?

Petersburg averages 49.1°F in January and 89.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.0 inches with about 3.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Petersburg?

Petersburg, VA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 23805, 23803.

What is the population of Petersburg?

The population of Petersburg, Virginia is 33,261 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Petersburg?

Key numbers for living in Petersburg: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $147,200, median household income $46,930, crime index 220 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Petersburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.