Tappahannock: Demographics & People
1,908 people call Tappahannock home, in 987 households. Population grew 2.3% from 1,865 (2022) to 1,908 (2024). Median age 44.9 years. (2.2y younger than Essex County; 7.1y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 46% Black and 42% White (non-Hispanic). The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.54). 46% of households are family-led. County is gaining 166 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 1.9 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 54% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 73 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 2.3% from 1,865 (2022) to 1,908 (2024) — about 3.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,952 (extrapolated at 1.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,012.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 10,599 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 2.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,865 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,908 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 1,908 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 2,012 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 44.9y is 6.0 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 44.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,908 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 369 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 325.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 780.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 434 |
| Population under 18 | 369 |
| Median age | 44.9 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 1,908 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.54 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 830 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 884 |
| Asian residents | 34 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 32 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 53.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 49.7% |
| Asian population | 4.5% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 46.0% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 42.1% (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).
| Residents born in this state | 1,232 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 587 |
| Share born in this state | 64.6% |
| Share born in another state | 35.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 30.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 43 |
| From Africa | 36 |
Households & Family Composition
987 households. Averaging 1.8 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 46% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 477 families, 7% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 358 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 477 |
| Married couples with children | 34 |
| Average household size | 1.81 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 377 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 141 |
| Family households | 454 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 46.0% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 987 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. 17.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 166 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 17.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 9,821 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 9,655 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 166 |
| 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 | 103 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.6% |
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. 116 residents live in group quarters (6.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 116 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51057 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 057 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Essex |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 17.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 12.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 23.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51057 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Essex County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 571 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51057 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Essex County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 51.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 46.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 18.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 10,953 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,908, growing, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,908 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Essex County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade