Merrifield: Demographics & People
Census counts 20,698 people in Merrifield, in 9,435 households. Population grew 0.7% from 20,549 (2022) to 20,698 (2024). Median age 34.6 years. (4.0y younger than Fairfax County; 3.2y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 36% White (non-Hispanic) and 36% Asian. The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.67). 55% of households are family-led. County is losing 28,691 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 27% adult obesity, 8% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 45% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 35 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.7% from 20,549 (2022) to 20,698 (2024) — about 1.2× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~20,849 (extrapolated at 0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 21,053.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,150,309 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 20,549 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 20,698 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 20,698 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 21,053 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 34.6y is 4.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 34.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 17.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 20,698 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,609 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 7,018.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 8,265.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,806 |
| Population under 18 | 3,609 |
| Median age | 34.6 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 20,698 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.67 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 8,511 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,812 |
| Asian residents | 6,605 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,805 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 67.3% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 43.1% |
| Asian population | 35.8% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 7.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 14.2% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 36.0% (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). 3.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 46% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 4,779 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 5,737 |
| Share born in this state | 23.1% |
| Share born in another state | 76.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 27.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 45.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 8,629 |
| From Europe | 791 |
| From Africa | 5,971 |
| From Latin America | 52 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 67 |
| Census Foreign Born · Central America | 101 |
Households & Family Composition
9,435 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 55% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 5,167 families, 33% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,433 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 5,167 |
| Married couples with children | 1,704 |
| Single-parent households | 86 |
| Average household size | 2.18 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 81 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 42 |
| Family households | 5,154 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 54.6% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 9,435 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. 24.5% 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) | 24.5% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 564 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 2.9% |
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. 12 residents live in group quarters (0.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 12 |
|---|
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 · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 17.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 20,698, stable, young professional, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 20,698 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Fairfax County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade