Buena Vista: Demographics & People
Buena Vista's population stands at 6,593 people, in 2,554 households. Population shrank 0.3% from 6,612 (2022) to 6,593 (2024). Median age 35.9 years. (1.9y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 85% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.07). 67% of households are family-led. County is losing 193 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 33% 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 0.3% from 6,612 (2022) to 6,593 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~6,573 (extrapolated at -0.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 6,548.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 6,641 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 6,612 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 6,593 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 6,593 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 6,548 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.9y is 3.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 6,593 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,452 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,758.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,143.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,240 |
| Population under 18 | 1,452 |
| Median age | 35.9 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 6,593 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.07 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 5,689 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 105 |
| Asian residents | 43 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 63 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 7.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 96.4% |
| Asian population | 0.9% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 2.0% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.2% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 84.7% (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 | 4,538 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,996 |
| Share born in this state | 68.8% |
| Share born in another state | 31.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 30.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 40 |
| From Europe | 18 |
| From Africa | 5 |
Households & Family Composition
2,554 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 67% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,804 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,421 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,804 |
| Married couples with children | 270 |
| Single-parent households | 154 |
| Average household size | 2.32 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 65 |
| Family households | 1,713 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 67.1% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 2,554 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. 20.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 193 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 20.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 5,663 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 5,856 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -193 |
| 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 | 396 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.0% |
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. 524 residents live in group quarters (7.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 524 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51530 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 530 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Buena Vista City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 9.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 5.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 14.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51530 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Buena Vista city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 236 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51530 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Buena Vista city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 41.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 37.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 0.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 6,478 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.60 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 22.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 6,593, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 6,593 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Buena Vista city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade