Franconia: Demographics & People
Franconia is home to 18,335 people, in 7,501 households. Population grew 1.1% from 18,141 (2022) to 18,335 (2024). Median age 40.9 years. (2.3y older than Fairfax County; 3.1y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 18% of the population. Population is 40% White (non-Hispanic) and 22% Black. The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.69). 61% of households are family-led. County is losing 28,691 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 27% adult obesity, 8% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 39% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 49 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.1% from 18,141 (2022) to 18,335 (2024) — about 1.8× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~18,531 (extrapolated at 0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 18,796.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,150,309 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 18,141 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 18,335 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 18,335 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 18,796 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.9y is 2.0 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 18% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 18.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 18,335 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,376 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 3,863.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 8,402.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,694 |
| Population under 18 | 3,376 |
| Median age | 40.9 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 18,335 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.69 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 8,568 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 3,987 |
| Asian residents | 3,376 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,567 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 68.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 46.3% |
| Asian population | 19.7% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 21.8% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 15.4% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 39.7% (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). 2.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 28% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 4,638 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 8,040 |
| Share born in this state | 25.3% |
| Share born in another state | 74.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 43.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 28.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 4,908 |
| From Europe | 281 |
| From Africa | 2,394 |
| From Latin America | 122 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 10 |
| Census Foreign Born · South America | 10 |
Households & Family Composition
7,501 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 61% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,503 families, 36% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,203 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,503 |
| Married couples with children | 1,605 |
| Single-parent households | 40 |
| Average household size | 2.40 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 12.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 248 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 111 |
| Family households | 4,569 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 60.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 7,501 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. 13.9% 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) | 13.9% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 749 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.3% |
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. 9 residents live in group quarters (0.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 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 | 18.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 18,335, growing, established, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 18,335 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Fairfax County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade