Virginia Beach (city), Virginia: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
The data center boom is not abstract in Virginia Beach (city): it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Virginia Beach (city). Virginia Beach (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Construction employs 9,295, down 10.0% since 2019. 12 MW of that came online in 2019 or later, mostly wind. Unemployment was 3.4% in August 2026, against 2.7% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Virginia Beach (city)
Virginia Beach (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Virginia Beach (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 459,626 | 453,737 | ▼ 1.3% | 3rd of 133 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 179,379 | 180,315 | ▲ 0.5% | 71st of 133 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $44,409 | $60,043 | ▲ 35.2% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 10,324 | 9,295 | ▼ 10.0% | 73rd of 83 by growth |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,144 | 1,033 | ▼ 9.7% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 481 | 362 | ▼ 24.7% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 2.7% | 3.4% | ▲ 0.7pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 12 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 12 MW of capacity, 100% of it wind. Employers here counted 180,315 jobs in 2025, up 0.5% from 2019. Electrical contractors employ 1,033, down 9.7% since 2019 against up 33.4% statewide, at an average $78,253 a year. 453,737 people live here, down 1.3% since 2020, 3rd of 133 Virginia counties by population.
Who powers Virginia Beach (city)
Net change in operating capacity since 2019: +12 MW. Colors follow the fuel legend above.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 12 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Pi | Virginia Electric & Power Co | Wind | 12 MW | 2021 |
The Virginia Beach (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 180,315 | $60,043 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 9,295 | $77,228 | 0.97 |
| Electrical contractors | 1,033 | $78,253 | 0.79 |
| Electric utilities | 156 | $140,584 | 0.32 |
| Data processing and hosting | 362 | $91,731 | 0.65 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Virginia Beach (city)
4 data centers in Virginia Beach (city) are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Virginia Beach (city) and its neighbors
Of the 3 counties that border Virginia Beach (city), Norfolk (city) carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach (city) | 453,737 | ▲ 0.5% | 12 MW | — | 4 | — |
| Chesapeake (city) | 255,332 | ▲ 4.8% | 51 MW | — | — | — |
| Currituck County NC | 33,158 | ▲ 0.5% | 262 MW | — | — | — |
| Norfolk (city) | 231,013 | ▲ 2.4% | — | — | 3 | — |
More of Virginia
Virginia Beach (city), answered from the record
What power plants are in Virginia Beach (city)?
1 operating plant with 12 MW of capacity. The largest is Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Pi (12 MW, wind).
What county is Virginia Beach, VA in?
Virginia Beach is in Virginia Beach (city), Virginia. About 453,737 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Are there data centers in Virginia Beach (city)?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 4 data centers in Virginia Beach (city).
Is Virginia Beach (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 180,315 jobs in 2025 against 179,379 in 2019 (+0.5%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 10,324 to 9,295.
Does Virginia Beach (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Virginia Beach (city). Virginia has 13 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.