Opal: Demographics & People
About 984 people live in Opal, in 223 households. Population grew 25.5% from 784 (2022) to 984 (2024). Median age 27.7 years. (13.5y younger than Fauquier County; 10.1y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 23% of the population. Population is 56% White (non-Hispanic) and 36% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.48). 91% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,558 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 13% smoke.
- 4.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 9% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 40 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 25.5% from 784 (2022) to 984 (2024) — about 42.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,251 (extrapolated at 12.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,672.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 72,972 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 25.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 784 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 984 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 984 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,672 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 27.7y is 11.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 23% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 27.7 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 23.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 984 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 227 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 329.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 372.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 56 |
| Population under 18 | 227 |
| Median age | 27.7 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 984 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.48 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 643 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 58 |
| Asian residents | 33 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 214 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 48.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 67.8% |
| Black population | 6.5% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 35.9% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 55.8% (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). 0.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 10% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 493 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 382 |
| Share born in this state | 50.1% |
| Share born in another state | 49.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 38.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 10.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 79 |
Households & Family Composition
223 households. Averaging 4.3 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 91% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 175 families, 33% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 174 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 175 |
| Married couples with children | 57 |
| Single-parent households | 4 |
| Average household size | 4.28 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 8.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 34 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 15 |
| Family households | 203 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 91.0% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 223 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. 10.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,558 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 76,072 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 74,514 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,558 |
| 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 | 33 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.4% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 10 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-10 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51061 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 061 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Fauquier |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 7.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.60 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51061 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Fauquier County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,886 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51061 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Fauquier County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 81.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 66.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 71,222 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 23.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 984, booming, young community, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 984 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Fauquier County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade