Breaks: Demographics & People
About 208 people live in Breaks, in 102 households. Population shrank 5.5% from 220 (2022) to 208 (2024). Median age 59.0 years. (11.2y older than Buchanan County; 21.2y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 14% of the population. Population is 100% White (non-Hispanic). The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.00). 89% of households are family-led. County is losing 377 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 45% adult obesity, 26% smoke.
- 2.0 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 11% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 75 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 5.5% from 220 (2022) to 208 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~196 (extrapolated at -2.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 182.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 20,355 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -5.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 220 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 208 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 208 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 182 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 59.0y is 20.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 14% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 59.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 13.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 208 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 29 |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 119.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 60 |
| Age Summary · Pct Under 18 | 13.9% |
| Population under 18 | 29 |
| Median age | 59.0 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 208 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.00 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 220 |
|---|---|
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 1 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 100.0% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 100.0% (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 (4)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 109 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 99 |
| Share born in this state | 52.4% |
| Share born in another state | 47.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 47.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 154 |
Households & Family Composition
102 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 89% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 89 families, 0% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 31 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 89 |
| Average household size | 2.08 |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 29 |
| Family households | 91 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 89.2% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 102 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. The surrounding county is losing 377 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 13,600 |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 13,977 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -377 |
| 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 | 58 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 31.9% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-09 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 027 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Buchanan |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 33.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 27.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 41.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51027 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Buchanan County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 856 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51027 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Buchanan County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 54.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 48.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 41.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 21,004 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 13.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 208, shrinking, retirement community, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 208 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Buchanan County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade