Dryden: Demographics & People
About 823 people live in Dryden, in 352 households. Population grew 51.0% from 545 (2022) to 823 (2024). Median age 35.9 years. (9.6y younger than Lee County; 1.9y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 99% White (non-Hispanic) and 1% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.03). 64% of households are family-led. County is gaining 141 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 36% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 60 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 51.0% from 545 (2022) to 823 (2024) — about 85.0× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,296 (extrapolated at 25.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,153.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 22,173 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 51.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 545 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 823 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 823 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 2,153 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.9y is 3.0 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 823 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 170 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 222.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 291.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 140 |
| Population under 18 | 170 |
| Median age | 35.9 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 823 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.03 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 545 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 8 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 2.9% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 98.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 98.7% (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 (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 361 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 462 |
| Share born in this state | 43.9% |
| Share born in another state | 56.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 56.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 303 |
Households & Family Composition
352 households. Averaging 2.0 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 64% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 165 families, 5% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 118 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 165 |
| Married couples with children | 9 |
| Average household size | 2.02 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 26.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 8 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 8 |
| Family households | 226 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 64.2% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 352 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. The surrounding county is gaining 141 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 15,998 |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 15,857 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 141 |
| 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 | 51 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.5% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51105 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 105 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Lee |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 38.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 31.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 46.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51105 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Lee County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 790 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51105 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Lee County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 60.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 52.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 40.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 23,423 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 1.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 823, booming, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 823 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Lee County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade