Newington Forest: Demographics & People
Census counts 12,316 people in Newington Forest, in 4,262 households. Population shrank 0.9% from 12,434 (2022) to 12,316 (2024). Median age 39.8 years. (1.2y older than Fairfax County; 2.0y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 52% White (non-Hispanic) and 18% Hispanic or Latino. The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.61). 73% of households are family-led. County is losing 28,691 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 27% adult obesity, 8% smoke.
- 2.9 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 27% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 58 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.9% from 12,434 (2022) to 12,316 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~12,199 (extrapolated at -0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 12,044.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,150,309 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 12,434 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 12,316 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 12,316 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 12,044 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 39.8y is 0.9 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 | 39.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 22.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 12,316 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 2,770 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 2,736.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 5,073.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,737 |
| Population under 18 | 2,770 |
| Median age | 39.8 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 12,316 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.61 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 6,863 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,023 |
| Asian residents | 1,921 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,249 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 60.9% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 56.9% |
| Asian population | 15.5% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 6.9% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 17.9% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 52.2% (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). 3.0% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 26% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,649 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 5,166 |
| Share born in this state | 29.6% |
| Share born in another state | 70.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 41.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 25.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3,212 |
| From Europe | 202 |
| From Asia | 8 |
| From Africa | 1,520 |
| From Latin America | 46 |
| Census Foreign Born · South America | 11 |
Households & Family Composition
4,262 households. Averaging 2.9 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 73% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 3,196 families, 43% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,915 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 3,196 |
| Married couples with children | 1,371 |
| Single-parent households | 21 |
| Average household size | 2.90 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 8.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 68 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 68 |
| Family households | 3,098 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 72.7% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 4,262 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. 11.4% 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) | 11.4% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 468 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.8% |
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 | 22.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 12,316, stable, family-oriented, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 12,316 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Fairfax County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade