Gargatha: Demographics & People
About 564 people live in Gargatha, in 274 households. Population shrank 3.4% from 584 (2022) to 564 (2024). Median age 55.4 years. (7.8y older than Accomack County; 17.6y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 47% White (non-Hispanic) and 39% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.50). 51% of households are family-led. County is gaining 155 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 49% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 99 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 3.4% from 584 (2022) to 564 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~544 (extrapolated at -1.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 520.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,413 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -3.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 584 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 564 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 564 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 520 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 55.4y is 16.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 55.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 564 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 107 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 3.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 281.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 173 |
| Population under 18 | 107 |
| Median age | 55.4 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 564 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.50 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 237 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 270 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 49.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 53.3% |
| Black population | 38.8% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 46.6% (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 (6)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 335 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 222 |
| Share born in this state | 59.4% |
| Share born in another state | 40.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 39.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 2,476 |
Households & Family Composition
274 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 51% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 138 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 145 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 138 |
| Married couples with children | 21 |
| Average household size | 2.24 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 12.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 4 |
| Family households | 139 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 50.7% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 274 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. The surrounding county is gaining 155 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| 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 | 76 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 12.0% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-02 |
| 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 | 7.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 13 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 564, declining, retirement community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 564 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Accomack County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade