Considering settling down in the Richmond area? The city of Petersburg, Virginia is a popular suburb of Richmond with many local amenities and affordable living. Petersburg residents enjoy the city’s quaint downtown, variety of restaurants, and close knit community.
Petersburg, VA is known for its rich history and role in the Revolutionary War and Civil War. The history of the city of Petersburg dates all the way back to the 17th century, but it wasn’t incorporated until 1748. The city is named for Major Peter Jones, commander of the fort in 1675 that later became the city. Petersburg has played a major role in transportation for more than 200 years and now offers residents living in Petersburg a great quality of life with diverse economic opportunities.
Here’s what you can look forward to about living in Petersburg, “the Cockade City” of Virginia!
Where is Petersburg, Virginia?
Petersburg is in Dinwiddie and Prince George counties in southeast Virginia on the Appomattox River. It’s about 24 miles from Petersburg, VA to Richmond or about 29 minutes by car. Living in Petersburg offers a suburban lifestyle with more space but Richmond is within commuting distance.
Petersburg borders Colonial Heights to the north, Kingwood to the south, West Petersburg to the west, and Fort Lee to the east.
Petersburg is served by two interstate highways: I-95 and I-85. The city is on the Norfolk Southern and CSX rail lines with Amtrak service out of neighboring Ettrick. Regional bus service is provided by Greyhound and the Greater Richmond Transit Company with service between downtown Richmond and Petersburg.
Petersburg, VA Population & Demographics
The population of Petersburg is 33,458 according to the 2020 census. That’s up slightly from 32,420 in 2010. The annual growth rate in Petersburg is 0.31% annually, and the city of Petersburg’s population density is 1,482 people per square mile.
The majority of people in Petersburg are between the ages of 18 and 65. The second largest group is people under 18 years old (21%) followed by people 65 and older (16.8%) and people under the age of 5 (6.9%). Petersburg has a skewed sex ratio with 54 females to 46 males over 18.
The median household income in Petersburg is $76,398. This is slightly above the national median household income of $67,521.
The majority of the population in Petersburg is Black or African American (76.84%). The second largest group is white (16.60%), two or more races (2.57%), a race unlisted (2.54%), Asian (1%), American Indian or Alaska Native (.44%), and Native Hawaiian (.03%).
Petersburg has a generally high crime rate, but there are many safe places to live in the city. The total crime rate per 100k citizens is 3,218. The property crime rate per 100k is 2,587, which is higher than the violent crime rate. This suggests that property crime is more prevalent than violent crime, which is ideal.
Petersburg is serviced by the Petersburg Police Department which has 86 officers on staff.
You may be familiar with Trey Songz, a singer and songwriter from Petersburg. Moses Malone, a professional basketball player, is also from the city.
Cost of Living in Petersburg
Is Petersburg, VA expensive? The average cost of living index in the United States is 100. The Petersburg cost of living index is 80.2 which makes it far more affordable than average for the country and the state of Virginia.
To live comfortably in Petersburg as a family of four, you would need to make about $80,954 per year to support yourself according to the Economic Policy Institute. Monthly, you can expect to spend $989 on housing, $1284 on childcare, $772 on taxes, $1258 on healthcare, $1104 on transportation, and $720 on food.
The median home price in Petersburg is $202,500. On average, the monthly rent cost in Petersburg is $1216 according to RentCafe.
Petersburg Typical Monthly Living Expenses:
- Petersburg monthly cost of utilities: $224
- Meal at inexpensive restaurant: $25
- Fitness club: $30.71
- Jeans: $44
- Bread: $2.59
Source: Numbeo
Petersburg Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Petersburg
The most popular neighborhood in Petersburg is Petersburg Northwest, Franklin Farms, and Petersburg Southwest. Other neighborhoods in Petersburg that are popular include Matoaca Park, Westover Park, Addison, and Walnut Hill. Other neighborhoods you may hear of in Petersburg include Matoaca, Ettrick, and Berkley Manor.
Though you may pay more to live in one of the top neighborhoods, it’s worth it for the sense of safety you’ll feel.
Petersburg Weather & Climate
Petersburg is in the mid-Atlantic United States. Typically, the summers in Petersburg are hot, muggy, and wet. The winters, by comparison, are extremely cold. You can expect it to be partially cloudy in Petersburg throughout the entire year. Generally speaking it is somewhere between 30 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year.
It does snow in Petersburg, Virginia, so pack your snow boots. Petersburg gets an average of 46 inches of rain per year which is slightly higher than the US average of 38 inches. On average the city gets about 6 inches of snow which is less than the US average.
Things to Do in Petersburg, VA
Regardless if you’re an indoors or outdoors person, you’re sure to find something that you enjoy to do in the Petersburg, Virginia area. If you’re a shopper, you’ll definitely find yourself at South Crater Square Shopping Center at some point, as this is a beloved mall in Petersburg. Alternatively, there are other ways to spend the day in addition to shopping. Here are some of the best things to do in Petersburg, VA.
Petersburg National Battlefield
If you are interested in history, you can’t miss this battlefield located in Petersburg. The battlefield is a National Park Service unit which preserves American Civil War history. By visiting, you can learn more about the 10 month long siege on the city of Petersburg. This was the longest battle in the entire Civil War.
Petersburg National Battlefield, Petersburg, VA 23803 804-732-3531
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Centre Hill Mansion-Museum
We weren’t exaggerating when we said that Petersburg is home to a ton of history! Spend a Saturday visiting the Centre Hill Mansion-Museum located in the city. This is also where the movie ‘Lincoln’ was filmed.
1 Centre Hill Ave, Petersburg, VA 23803 804-733-2401
Pocahontas Island Black History Museum
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit Pocahontas Island Black History museum to gain even more insight into how historically significant this area is. This was actually an Underground Railroad stop that helped guide enslaved people to freedom. Today, you can visit and learn about over 200 years of Black History.
224 Witten St, Petersburg, VA 23803, 804-861-8889
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Petersburg Restaurants
Petersburg offers a plethora of history, of course, but it also offers a myriad of delicious restaurants where you can chow down after you’ve done your day’s worth of exploring. There is a Petersburg restaurant for every taste so be sure to try plenty new ones. Here are some of the best Petersburg restaurants you should try.
- Saucy’s Sit-Down Bar.B.Q. Locals and visitors alike adore paying a visit to Saucy’s. If you’re a fan of barbeque, you simply can’t miss this eatery that’s perfect for people of all ages. 257 E Bank St Suite C, Petersburg, VA 23803 804-504-3075
- Maria’s Old Town 21. Are you craving Italian food? Look no further than Maria’s which serves Sicilian grub in a lowkey, relaxed setting. 21 W Old St, Petersburg, VA 23803 804-862-3100
- Dixie Restaurant. There’s nothing like some good old fashioned Southern Cooking, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at this diner-esque spot in Downtown Petersburg. 250 N Sycamore St, Petersburg, VA 23803 804-732-7425
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Jobs in Petersburg, Virginia
Because Petersburg is close to Richmond, a lot of residents commute into the larger city for work. The commute is brief and therefore, living in Petersburg is appealing for those who want to raise a family in a smaller community but not have an hours-long commute.
If you’d prefer to work in Petersburg or another closer town, however, there are still employment opportunities. Here’s a job board so you can inquire about employment opportunities in Petersburg.
The most popular companies to work for include Southside Regional Medical Center and Petersburg Hospital Company, so for those who want to work in the medical industry, there are many opportunities.
The average hourly salary in Petersburg, VA is $20.19.
Schools in Petersburg
If you have children and are considering moving to Petersburg, you may have questions about the Petersburg school system. Children in Petersburg will attend the Petersburg City Public School District. The district includes seven schools and has over 4000 children enrolled. The student to teacher ratio in Petersburg City Public School District is 13:1.
Petersburg Statistics & Information
- Petersburg counties: Dinwiddie and Prince George
- Area: 59.42 mi²
- Zip codes: 23803–23806
- Area code: 804
- Elevation: 134′
- Time Zone: EST
- Closest airport to Petersburg, VA: Dinwiddie Airport, (KPTB) 8.8 miles away and Richmond International Airport (RIC) 24 miles away
Map of Petersburg, Virginia
Ready to soak up everything that small town life in Petersburg has to offer?
Moving to Petersburg? We Can Help!
Because of the variety of things to do in Petersburg and its proximity to Richmond, it’s a desirable place to live. If you are ready to make your move, give our Petersburg movers a call at 804-836-4954 for a free quote.
