University of Virginia: Demographics & People

9,065 people call University of Virginia home, in 1,305 households. Population shrank 1.0% from 9,159 (2022) to 9,065 (2024). Median age 19.6 years. (20.1y younger than Albemarle County; 18.2y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 4% of the population. Population is 57% White (non-Hispanic) and 19% Asian. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.56). 36% of households are family-led. County is gaining 2,471 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 32% adult obesity, 11% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population shrank 1.0% from 9,159 (2022) to 9,065 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~8,971 (extrapolated at -0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 8,848.

Census data vintage2024
Population112,395 people
Annual growth rate · Population change-1.0%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)9,159
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)9,065
Annual growth rate · Trend categorydeclining
Population9,065 people (vs Virginia 42,214) population: 4 observations from 2026-04-17 to 2026-04-28
Population Estimate8,848

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 19.6y is 19.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 4% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age19.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y)
Age Summary · Children Pct4.1%
Age Summary · Characteryoung community
Age Summary · Total Pop9,065
Age Summary · Under 18372
Age Summary · 18 To 347,893.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 64573.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus227
Population under 18372
Median age19.6 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 9,065 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.56 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.

White residents5,616
Black residents1,169
Asian residents1,576
Hispanic or Latino residents719
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)56.5%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelmoderately diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share61.9%
Asian population18.6% (vs Virginia 5.6%)
Black population13.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%)
Hispanic or Latino population6.0% (vs Virginia 10.1%)
White (non-Hispanic) population57.4% (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)

(unnamed)
Asian
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
American

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 17% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state4,152
Residents born in another state3,201
Share born in this state45.8%
Share born in another state54.2%
Native-born U.S. citizens35.3%
Foreign-born residents2.1%
Naturalized citizens16.8%
Total foreign-born residents1,815
From Europe127
From Africa1,167
From Latin America13
Census Foreign Born · South America10

Households & Family Composition

1,305 households. Averaging 1.9 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 36% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 454 families, 20% are married couples with children.

Children under 18323
Total families454
Married couples with children93
Single-parent households7
Average household size1.91
Women who gave birth (past year)1.7%
Grandparents living with grandchildren16
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren16
Family households467 households (vs Virginia 9,367)
Households that are families35.8% (vs Virginia 65.0%)
Total households1,305 households (vs Virginia 14,324) total_households: 2 observations from 2026-04-23 to 2026-04-23

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 62.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 2,471 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)62.8%
Migration · People moving in (annual)113,960
Migration · People moving out (annual)111,489
Migration · Net migration (in − out)2,471
Migration · Population growingYes
Migration · Year2022-2023

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 disability141
Disability rate1.5%

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. 6,604 residents live in group quarters (72.9% of population).

Living in group quarters6,604

Other

Congressional District · District5
Congressional District · FormattedVA-05
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips51003
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips51
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips003
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyAlbemarle
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate4.2%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci3.40
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci5.10
Cdc Mortality · Fips51003
Cdc Mortality · CountyAlbemarle County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralSmall metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20233,848
Cdc Vaccination · Fips51003
Cdc Vaccination · CountyAlbemarle County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct80.9%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct67.9%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct33.1%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019109,330
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score5.50
Family Score · Schools9
Family Score · Children Pct4.1%
Family Score · Ratinggood
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 9,065, declining, young community, middle-class, mixed
Town Summary · Population9,065 people (vs Virginia 42,214)
Town Summary · CountyAlbemarle County

Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade