New Kent County, VA

This county of 29,022 residents needs 2,069 more housing units over the next five years. New Kent County is part of the Richmond Area MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
29,022 (2026)
Households
9,938
Median household income
$139,075 (2026)
Typical home value
$447,585
Owner-occupied
88%
Five-year housing need
2,069 units

Comparison to other Virginia counties

New Kent County: $139,075 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$43K >$154K
New Kent County: 0.58 jobs to household ratio
<0.31 >1.73
New Kent County: Permits since 2021 represent 19.4% of housing
<0.2% >11.9%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in New Kent County, VA is valued at $447,585, well above the Virginia average of $287,140. New Kent County, VA's median household income of $139,075 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

New Kent County, VA has a population of roughly 25,105, growing steadily at 2.8% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

New Kent County, VA is a growing community of roughly 9,938 households, with population increasing at 2.8% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in New Kent County, VA is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 93% of units. New Kent County, VA is a strongly owner-occupied community, with 88% of households owning their home.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, New Kent County, VA needs 2,069 new units over the next 5 years.

1,945
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
19.6%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 9,938 in 2026 to 11,883 in 2031.
124
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
65
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.3 per 1,000 units.
59
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.8%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
2,069
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
414
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
21.1%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
4.2%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?