Population growth
2020 base to 2025 estimate
Stafford by the numbers
Facts for a county
growing fast.
Reliable community data helps residents ask better questions: Are schools, roads, housing and public services keeping pace? Is growth improving health and quality of life?
DATA NOTE
Population estimates are for 2025. Most demographic, housing, education and income measures are 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Race categories and Hispanic origin can overlap, so percentages should not be added together.
Updated August 24, 2026Under age 18
A young, family-oriented county
Median household income
2020–2024, 2024 dollars
Mean commute
Workers age 16 and older
Population
42,000 more residents since 2010
2010128,961
2020156,927
2025170,803
Stafford grew 21.7% between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, then another 8.8% from the April 2020 estimate base to July 2025.
Age & households
A growing county of families
25.7%Under 1812.9%Age 65+3.05People per household52,326Households
Race & ethnicity
A diverse community
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity and may include people of any race.Housing
Homeownership is high—and housing is costly
80.5%Owner-occupied$485,100Median owner value$2,545Monthly owner cost with mortgage$2,020Median gross rent
Education & schools
Education is central to healthy growth
92.7%High school graduate+43.8%Bachelor’s degree+~31,220Public school students*2026–27New boundaries began
*The student count is from a Stafford County back-to-school notice. SCPS reports that redistricting and new school openings took effect for 2026–27 as the division responds to growth.
Economy & access
Prosperity with pressure points
$53,157Per capita income5.4%Persons in poverty96.8%Broadband households19,818Veterans
The sustainable-growth lens
What these numbers mean for planning
Schools
A young population means enrollment, school capacity and safe routes must stay ahead of residential growth.
Housing
High values and rents make housing choice and affordability part of community health.
Mobility
A 36-minute mean commute makes transportation, local jobs and connected land use essential.
Infrastructure
Fast population growth increases demand for water, utilities, parks, public safety and resilient facilities.
Environment
Growth decisions should protect watersheds, tree canopy, open space and neighborhoods from avoidable impacts.
Transparency
Residents need current data, clear project status and meaningful participation before major decisions.
Sources & methodology
Start with the original data
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — Stafford CountyPopulation, age, race, housing, education, income, commuting and business data ↗Stafford County Public Schools — 2026–27 RedistrictingNew schools, attendance boundaries and transition information ↗UVA Weldon Cooper Center — Population ProjectionsGrowth context and a caution that projections carry uncertainty ↗