Difficult Run: Demographics & People
About 9,938 people live in Difficult Run, in 3,139 households. Population shrank 2.6% from 10,202 (2022) to 9,938 (2024). Median age 45.3 years. (6.7y older than Fairfax County; 7.5y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 27% of the population. Population is 69% White (non-Hispanic) and 16% Asian. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.33). 93% of households are family-led. County is losing 28,691 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 27% adult obesity, 8% smoke.
- 3.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 7% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 82 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 2.6% from 10,202 (2022) to 9,938 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~9,682 (extrapolated at -1.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 9,347.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,150,309 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -2.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 10,202 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 9,938 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 9,938 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 9,347 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 45.3y is 6.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 27% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 45.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 26.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 9,938 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 2,660 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,092.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 4,380.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,806 |
| Population under 18 | 2,660 |
| Median age | 45.3 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 9,938 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.33 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 8,022 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 75 |
| Asian residents | 1,146 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 712 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 33.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 80.6% |
| Asian population | 16.5% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 1.0% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 5.1% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 69.2% (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). 1.0% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 17% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,221 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,907 |
| Share born in this state | 32.4% |
| Share born in another state | 67.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 49.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 17.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,347 |
| From Europe | 327 |
| From Asia | 45 |
| From Africa | 807 |
Households & Family Composition
3,139 households. Averaging 3.2 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 93% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 3,037 families, 43% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,769 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 3,037 |
| Married couples with children | 1,304 |
| Single-parent households | 19 |
| Average household size | 3.16 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 3.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 71 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 36 |
| Family households | 2,925 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 93.2% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 3,139 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. 7.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 28,691 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 7.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 1,133,831 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 1,162,522 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -28,691 |
| 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 | 303 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 2.9% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 11 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-11 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51059 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 059 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Fairfax |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 7.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 8.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51059 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Fairfax County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 21,551 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51059 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Fairfax County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 95.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 81.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 49.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 1,147,532 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 26.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 9,938, declining, established, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 9,938 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Fairfax County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade