Melfa: Demographics & People
Census counts 468 people in Melfa, in 203 households. Population grew 4.7% from 447 (2022) to 468 (2024). Median age 29.8 years. (17.8y younger than Accomack County; 8.0y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 39% of the population. Population is 62% White (non-Hispanic) and 20% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.46). 58% of households are family-led. County is gaining 155 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 116 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 4.7% from 447 (2022) to 468 (2024) — about 7.8× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~490 (extrapolated at 2.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 520.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,413 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 4.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 447 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 468 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 468 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 520 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 29.8y is 9.1 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 39% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 29.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 39.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 468 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 184 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 68.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 149.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 67 |
| Population under 18 | 184 |
| Median age | 29.8 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 468 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.46 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 267 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 110 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 16 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 45.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 67.9% |
| Black population | 20.1% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.6% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 61.8% (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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 268 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 178 |
| Share born in this state | 57.3% |
| Share born in another state | 42.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 38.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 28 |
| From Europe | 2 |
Households & Family Composition
203 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 114 families, 25% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 163 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 114 |
| Married couples with children | 29 |
| Single-parent households | 3 |
| Average household size | 2.21 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 816 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 270 |
| Family households | 117 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 57.6% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 203 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. 8.3% 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) | 8.3% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 12 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 2.8% |
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 | 1.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 39.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 468, growing, young community, lower-income, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 468 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Accomack County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade