Benns Church: Demographics & People
Benns Church's population stands at 1,813 people, in 593 households. Population grew 25.6% from 1,443 (2022) to 1,813 (2024). Median age 33.1 years. (10.7y younger than Isle of Wight County; 4.7y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 37% of the population. Population is 55% Black and 33% White (non-Hispanic). The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.53). 83% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,023 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 3.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 17% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 114 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 25.6% from 1,443 (2022) to 1,813 (2024) — about 42.7× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~2,307 (extrapolated at 12.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 3,088.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 38,606 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 25.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,443 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,813 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 1,813 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 3,088 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 33.1y is 5.8 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 37% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 33.1 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 37.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,813 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 675 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 367.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 481.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 290 |
| Population under 18 | 675 |
| Median age | 33.1 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 1,813 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.53 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 680 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 571 |
| Asian residents | 4 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 46 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 53.3% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 52.3% |
| Asian population | 0.2% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 55.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 33.4% (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). 1.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 950 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 815 |
| Share born in this state | 52.4% |
| Share born in another state | 47.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 45.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.9% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 10 |
Households & Family Composition
593 households. Averaging 2.9 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 83% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 388 families, 24% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 432 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 388 |
| Married couples with children | 95 |
| Average household size | 2.86 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 11.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 38 |
| Family households | 490 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 82.6% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 593 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. 9.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,023 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 9.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 41,000 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 39,977 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,023 |
| 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 | 67 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.8% |
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. 11 residents live in group quarters (0.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 11 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-02 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51093 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 093 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Isle of Wight |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 9.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 11.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51093 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Isle of Wight County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 996 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51093 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Isle of Wight County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 62.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 53.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 22.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 37,109 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 9 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 37.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,813, booming, young professional, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,813 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Isle of Wight County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade