Altavista: Demographics & People
About 3,342 people live in Altavista, in 1,338 households. Population shrank 0.4% from 3,356 (2022) to 3,342 (2024). Median age 39.0 years. (4.6y younger than Campbell County; 1.2y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 65% White (non-Hispanic) and 28% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.48). 58% of households are family-led. County is gaining 2,004 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 19% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 72 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.4% from 3,356 (2022) to 3,342 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~3,327 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 3,309.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 55,696 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,356 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,342 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 3,342 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 3,309 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 39.0y is 0.1 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 | 39.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 3,342 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 746 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 841.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,099.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 656 |
| Population under 18 | 746 |
| Median age | 39.0 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 3,342 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.48 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 2,098 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,158 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 79 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 48.3% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 62.9% |
| Asian population | 0.5% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 28.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.5% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 65.0% (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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 2,624 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 694 |
| Share born in this state | 78.5% |
| Share born in another state | 21.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 20.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,857 |
Households & Family Composition
1,338 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 816 families, 24% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 743 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 816 |
| Married couples with children | 199 |
| Single-parent households | 41 |
| Average household size | 2.49 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 141 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 54 |
| Family households | 773 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 57.8% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,338 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. 23.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 2,004 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 23.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 53,783 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 51,779 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 2,004 |
| 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 | 209 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.4% |
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. 57 residents live in group quarters (1.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 57 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51031 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 031 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Campbell |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 17.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 14.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 21.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51031 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Campbell County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,439 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51031 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Campbell County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 45.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 40.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 26.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 54,885 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 22.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,342, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,342 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Campbell County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade