McDowell: Demographics & People
About 58 people live in McDowell, in 27 households. Population grew 56.8% from 37 (2022) to 58 (2024). Median age 32.3 years. (24.2y younger than Highland County; 5.5y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 34% of the population. Population is 100% White (non-Hispanic). The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.00). 44% of households are family-led. County health: 34% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 56% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 222 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 56.8% from 37 (2022) to 58 (2024) — about 94.6× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~95 (extrapolated at 28.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 165.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,232 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 56.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 37 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 58 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 58 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 165 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 32.3y is 6.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 34% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 32.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 34.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 58 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 20 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 14.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 4.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 20 |
| Population under 18 | 20 |
| Median age | 32.3 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 58 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.00 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 37 |
|---|---|
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 1 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 100.0% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 100.0% (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 (1)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 49 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 9 |
| Share born in this state | 84.5% |
| Share born in another state | 15.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 15.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 26 |
Households & Family Composition
27 households. Averaging 1.6 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 44% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 9 families, 22% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 5 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 9 |
| Married couples with children | 2 |
| Average household size | 1.61 |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 48 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 9 |
| Family households | 12 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 44.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 27 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.
| Lived in same home a year ago | 58.0% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 1,958 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 1,953 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 5 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-06 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51091 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 091 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Highland |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 17.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 5.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 42.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51091 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Highland County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 58 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51091 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Highland County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 70.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 62.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 62.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 2,190 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 34.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 58, booming, young professional, high crime, heritage: English/Scotch-Irish |
| Town Summary · Population | 58 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Highland County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade