Buena Vista city: Demographics & People
6,593 people call Buena Vista city home, in 2,554 households. Median age 35.9 years. (1.9y younger than Virginia). Population is 2% Black and 1% Asian. County is losing 193 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 69 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Current population 6,593; figures track the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimates.
| Population | 6,593 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
|---|---|
| Total Town Population | 6,641 people |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Age Distribution
Median age 35.9y is 3.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y).
| 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 |
| Age Summary · Pct Under 18 | 22.0% |
| Age Summary · Pct 18 To 34 | 26.7% |
| Age Summary · Pct 35 To 64 | 32.5% |
| Median age | 35.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · 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).
| Census Demographics · Total Population | 6,593 people |
|---|---|
| White residents | 5,583 |
| Black residents | 134 |
| Asian residents | 68 |
| Census Demographics · Aian | 83 |
| Census Demographics · Nhpi | 23 |
| Census Demographics · Other Race | 32 |
| Census Demographics · Two Or More Races | 670 |
| Diversity Index | 27.2% |
| Asian population | 1.0% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 2.0% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.2% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 13.6% are foreign-born — near the U.S. average of 13.9%.
| Census Citizenship · Total | 6,593 |
|---|---|
| Census Citizenship · Native | 6,536 |
| Residents born in this state | 4,538 |
| Residents born in another state | 1,996 |
| Census Citizenship · Foreign Born | 899 |
| Census Citizenship · Naturalized | 692 |
| Census Citizenship · Non Citizen | 2 |
| Foreign-born residents | 13.6% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Households & Family Composition
2,554 households.
| Family households | 1,713 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
|---|---|
| Total households | 2,554 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. The surrounding county is losing 193 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| 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 2022-2023
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.
| Census Disability · Total Pop | 6,546 |
|---|---|
| With Disability | 1,367 |
| Pct With Disability | 20.9% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
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. 0 residents live in group quarters.
| Census Group Quarters · Total | 524 |
|---|
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Other
| Census Mobility · Total | 6,555 |
|---|---|
| Census Mobility · Same House | 5,228 |
| Census Mobility · Same County | 277 |
| Census Mobility · Diff County Same State | 598 |
| Census Mobility · Diff State | 416 |
| Census Mobility · From Abroad | 36 |
| Census Mobility · Moved Total | 1,327 |
| Census Mobility · Pct Moved In Year | 20.2% |
| Pct White | 84.7% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29