South Boston: Demographics & People
South Boston is home to 7,853 people, in 2,974 households. Population shrank 0.5% from 7,896 (2022) to 7,853 (2024). Median age 44.2 years. (2.3y younger than Halifax County; 6.4y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 50% Black and 41% White (non-Hispanic). The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.51). 56% of households are family-led. County is gaining 602 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 43% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 44% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 102 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.5% from 7,896 (2022) to 7,853 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~7,810 (extrapolated at -0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 7,754.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 34,022 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 7,896 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 7,853 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 7,853 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 7,754 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 44.2y is 5.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 44.2 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 7,853 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,998 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,451.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,432.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,972 |
| Population under 18 | 1,998 |
| Median age | 44.2 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 7,853 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.51 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 3,253 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 4,394 |
| Asian residents | 115 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 36 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 50.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 56.3% |
| Asian population | 1.9% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 50.0% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.9% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 41.3% (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). 0.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 5,146 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,412 |
| Share born in this state | 65.5% |
| Share born in another state | 34.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 30.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 203 |
| From Europe | 66 |
| From Africa | 56 |
Households & Family Composition
2,974 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,786 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,853 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,786 |
| Married couples with children | 265 |
| Single-parent households | 33 |
| Average household size | 2.23 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 80 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 41 |
| Family households | 1,650 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 55.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 2,974 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. 8.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 602 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 28,438 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 27,836 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 602 |
| 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 | 409 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.7% |
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. 780 residents live in group quarters (9.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 780 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51083 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 083 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Halifax |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 30.7% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 25.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 36.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51083 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Halifax County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,777 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51083 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Halifax County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 50.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 44.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 28.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 33,911 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.20 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 7,853, stable, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 7,853 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Halifax County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade