Independence: Demographics & People
Census counts 1,132 people in Independence, in 472 households. Population shrank 1.1% from 1,144 (2022) to 1,132 (2024). Median age 58.4 years. (10.0y older than Grayson County; 20.6y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 88% White (non-Hispanic) and 5% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.13). 58% of households are family-led. County is gaining 506 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 23% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 104 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.1% from 1,144 (2022) to 1,132 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,120 (extrapolated at -0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,104.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 15,333 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,144 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,132 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 1,132 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,104 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 58.4y is 19.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 58.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,132 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 217 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 121.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 435.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 359 |
| Population under 18 | 217 |
| Median age | 58.4 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 1,132 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.13 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,056 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 49 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 27 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 12.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 93.3% |
| Black population | 5.4% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.4% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 87.5% (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). 0.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 622 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 487 |
| Share born in this state | 54.9% |
| Share born in another state | 45.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 43.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 54 |
Households & Family Composition
472 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 266 families, 31% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 232 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 266 |
| Married couples with children | 83 |
| Average household size | 2.18 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 25.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 8 |
| Family households | 276 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 58.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 472 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. 10.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 506 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 12,639 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 12,133 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 506 |
| 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 | 110 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.6% |
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. 156 residents live in group quarters (13.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 156 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51077 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 077 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Grayson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 25.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 19.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 33.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51077 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Grayson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 519 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51077 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Grayson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 48.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 42.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 36.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 15,550 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,132, declining, retirement community, working-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,132 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Grayson County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade