Chincoteague: Demographics & People
Chincoteague is home to 3,296 people, in 1,714 households. Population shrank 0.1% from 3,300 (2022) to 3,296 (2024). Median age 57.4 years. (9.8y older than Accomack County; 19.6y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 14% of the population. Population is 96% White (non-Hispanic) and 1% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.04). 60% of households are family-led. County is gaining 155 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 1.9 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 40% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 106 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.1% from 3,300 (2022) to 3,296 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~3,292 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend).
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,413 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,300 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,296 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 3,296 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 3,286 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 57.4y is 18.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 14% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 57.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 13.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 3,296 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 457 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 384.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,215.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,240 |
| Population under 18 | 457 |
| Median age | 57.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 3,296 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.04 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 3,134 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 65 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 4.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 98.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 96.2% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 936 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,348 |
| Share born in this state | 28.4% |
| Share born in another state | 71.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 71.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 101 |
| From Europe | 30 |
| From Asia | 30 |
Households & Family Composition
1,714 households. Averaging 1.9 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 994 families, 23% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 504 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 994 |
| Married couples with children | 225 |
| Single-parent households | 10 |
| Average household size | 1.91 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 13 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 13 |
| Family households | 1,024 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 59.7% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,714 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 7.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 155 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 7.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 29,426 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 29,271 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 155 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 326 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.2% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51001 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 001 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Accomack |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 24.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 20.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 29.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51001 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Accomack County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,618 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51001 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Accomack County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 86.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 76.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 50.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 32,316 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 13.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,296, stable, retirement community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,296 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Accomack County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade