Wachapreague: Demographics & People
Wachapreague is home to 306 people, in 159 households. Population grew 5.5% from 290 (2022) to 306 (2024). Median age 58.0 years. (10.4y older than Accomack County; 20.2y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 10% of the population. Population is 89% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.12). 44% 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).
- 56% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 103 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 5.5% from 290 (2022) to 306 (2024) — about 9.2× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~323 (extrapolated at 2.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 346.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,413 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 5.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 290 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 306 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 306 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 346 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 58.0y is 19.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 10% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 58.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 9.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 306 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 29 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 71.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 80.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 126 |
| Population under 18 | 29 |
| Median age | 58.0 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 306 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.12 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 274 |
|---|---|
| Asian residents | 6 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 12 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 11.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 93.8% |
| Asian population | 2.3% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 7.5% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 88.9% (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 | 182 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 117 |
| Share born in this state | 59.5% |
| Share born in another state | 40.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 38.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 6 |
| From Africa | 6 |
Households & Family Composition
159 households. Averaging 1.8 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 44% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 75 families, 1% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 24 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 75 |
| Married couples with children | 1 |
| Average household size | 1.83 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 23.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 816 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 270 |
| Family households | 70 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 44.0% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 159 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. 30.1% 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) | 30.1% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 37 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 13.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 45 residents live in group quarters (14.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 45 |
|---|
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 | 9.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 306, booming, retirement community, middle-class, service economy |
| Town Summary · Population | 306 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Accomack County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade