Blue Ridge: Demographics & People
Blue Ridge's population stands at 2,800 people, in 1,091 households. Population shrank 10.0% from 3,112 (2022) to 2,800 (2024). Median age 45.7 years. (1.8y younger than Botetourt County; 7.9y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 83% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.14). 75% of households are family-led. County is gaining 393 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 25% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 69 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 10.0% from 3,112 (2022) to 2,800 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,526 (extrapolated at -5.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,187.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,596 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -10.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,112 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,800 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 2,800 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 2,187 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 45.7y is 6.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 45.7 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,800 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 627 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 416.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,241.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 516 |
| Population under 18 | 627 |
| Median age | 45.7 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 2,800 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 | 2,696 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 76 |
| Asian residents | 55 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 75 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 13.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 92.9% |
| Asian population | 2.4% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 3.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.1% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 83.1% (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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 2,001 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 703 |
| Share born in this state | 71.5% |
| Share born in another state | 28.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.1% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 62 |
| From Africa | 55 |
Households & Family Composition
1,091 households. Averaging 2.6 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 75% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 914 families, 26% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 683 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 914 |
| Married couples with children | 239 |
| Single-parent households | 7 |
| Average household size | 2.64 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 60 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 36 |
| Family households | 821 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 75.3% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,091 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. 5.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 393 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 5.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 34,538 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 34,145 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 393 |
| 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 | 135 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.5% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-06 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Botetourt |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 9.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 12.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51023 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Botetourt County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 971 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51023 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Botetourt County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 58.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 50.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 29.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 33,419 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 7.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 12 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 22.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,800, shrinking, established, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,800 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Botetourt County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade