Iron Gate: Demographics & People
About 426 people live in Iron Gate, in 198 households. Population grew 4.4% from 408 (2022) to 426 (2024). Median age 39.8 years. (8.5y younger than Alleghany County; 2.0y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 90% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.14). 60% of households are family-led. County is gaining 116 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 19% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 40% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 86 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 4.4% from 408 (2022) to 426 (2024) — about 7.4× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~444 (extrapolated at 2.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 471.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 15,223 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 4.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 408 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 426 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 426 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 471 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 39.8y is 0.9 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 39.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 426 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 107 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 49.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 180.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 90 |
| Population under 18 | 107 |
| Median age | 39.8 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 426 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.14 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 371 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 26 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 13.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 92.8% |
| Black population | 3.8% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.9% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 90.1% (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). 1.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%.
| Residents born in this state | 367 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 53 |
| Share born in this state | 86.2% |
| Share born in another state | 13.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 12.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 160 |
Households & Family Composition
198 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 104 families, 64% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 101 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 104 |
| Married couples with children | 67 |
| Single-parent households | 3 |
| Average household size | 2.06 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 2 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 1 |
| Family households | 119 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 60.1% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 198 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. 2.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 116 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 2.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 13,116 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 13,000 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 116 |
| 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 | 31 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.8% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-06 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51005 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 005 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Alleghany |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 20.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 15.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 27.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51005 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Alleghany County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 936 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51005 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Alleghany County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 48.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 39.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 8.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 14,860 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 426, growing, family-oriented, middle-class, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 426 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Alleghany County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade