Laurel: Demographics & People
Census counts 18,721 people in Laurel, in 7,164 households. Population grew 3.0% from 18,180 (2022) to 18,721 (2024). Median age 35.1 years. (4.3y younger than Henrico County; 2.7y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 43% White (non-Hispanic) and 28% Black. The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.67). 61% of households are family-led. County is losing 945 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 35% adult obesity, 12% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 39% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 49 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 3.0% from 18,180 (2022) to 18,721 (2024) — about 5.0× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~19,283 (extrapolated at 1.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 20,049.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 334,389 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 3.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 18,180 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 18,721 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 18,721 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 20,049 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.1y is 3.8 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.1 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 18,721 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,933 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 5,392.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 7,179.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,217 |
| Population under 18 | 3,933 |
| Median age | 35.1 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 18,721 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.67 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 7,907 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 5,594 |
| Asian residents | 1,763 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,217 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 66.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 45.2% |
| Asian population | 8.0% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 27.9% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 15.1% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 43.0% (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). 2.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 21% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 9,793 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,463 |
| Share born in this state | 52.3% |
| Share born in another state | 47.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 23.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 21.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3,448 |
| From Europe | 248 |
| From Africa | 1,589 |
| From Latin America | 4 |
| Census Foreign Born · Caribbean | 28 |
Households & Family Composition
7,164 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 61% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,063 families, 30% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 3,588 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,063 |
| Married couples with children | 1,204 |
| Single-parent households | 242 |
| Average household size | 2.41 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 231 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 70 |
| Family households | 4,362 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 60.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 7,164 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. 18.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 945 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 18.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 323,622 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 324,567 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -945 |
| 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 | 677 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.8% |
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. 917 residents live in group quarters (4.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 917 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 4 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-04 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51087 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 087 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Henrico |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 9.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 8.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 10.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51087 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Henrico County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 13,691 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51087 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Henrico County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 63.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 56.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 27.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 330,818 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 18,721, growing, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 18,721 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Henrico County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade