The Plains: Demographics & People
164 people call The Plains home, in 69 households. Population grew 43.9% from 114 (2022) to 164 (2024). Median age 45.6 years. (4.4y older than Fauquier County; 7.8y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 13% of the population. Population is 80% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.21). 58% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,558 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 13% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 29 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 43.9% from 114 (2022) to 164 (2024) — about 73.1× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~243 (extrapolated at 21.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 383.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 72,972 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 43.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 114 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 164 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 164 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 383 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 45.6y is 6.7 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 13% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 45.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 12.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 164 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 21 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 31.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 96.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 16 |
| Population under 18 | 21 |
| Median age | 45.6 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 164 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.21 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 93 |
|---|---|
| Asian residents | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 10 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 20.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 88.6% |
| Asian population | 2.4% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 5.5% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.5% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 80.5% (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).
| Residents born in this state | 107 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 41 |
| Share born in this state | 65.2% |
| Share born in another state | 34.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 25.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 9.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 43 |
| From Europe | 7 |
Households & Family Composition
69 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 26 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 10 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 26 |
| Married couples with children | 4 |
| Single-parent households | 2 |
| Average household size | 2.15 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 1,151 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 438 |
| Family households | 40 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 58.0% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 69 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. 6.7% 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) | 6.7% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 1.5% |
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 · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 12.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 164, booming, established, upper-middle, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 164 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Fauquier County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade