Dahlgren: Demographics & People
3,350 people call Dahlgren home, in 1,290 households. Population shrank 2.0% from 3,417 (2022) to 3,350 (2024). Median age 34.1 years. (4.2y younger than King George County; 3.7y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 55% White (non-Hispanic) and 23% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.49). 61% of households are family-led. County is gaining 769 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 35% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 39% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 59 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 2.0% from 3,417 (2022) to 3,350 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~3,284 (extrapolated at -1.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 3,198.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 26,723 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -2.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,417 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,350 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 3,350 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 3,198 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 34.1y is 4.8 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 | 34.1 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 3,350 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 717 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,037.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,075.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 521 |
| Population under 18 | 717 |
| Median age | 34.1 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 3,350 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.49 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 2,075 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 801 |
| Asian residents | 11 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 242 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 48.9% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 66.3% |
| Asian population | 0.2% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 23.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.4% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 54.8% (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). 2.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,222 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,900 |
| Share born in this state | 36.5% |
| Share born in another state | 63.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 56.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 84 |
| From Africa | 4 |
Households & Family Composition
1,290 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 61% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 823 families, 38% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 799 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 823 |
| Married couples with children | 312 |
| Single-parent households | 13 |
| Average household size | 2.72 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 12.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 62 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 53 |
| Family households | 792 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 61.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,290 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. 10.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 769 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 29,031 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 28,262 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 769 |
| 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 | 146 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.2% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51099 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 099 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | King George |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 14.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 10.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 17.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51099 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | King George County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 472 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51099 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | King George County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 50.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 41.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 10.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 26,836 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 1.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,350, declining, young professional, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,350 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | King George County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade