Pennington Gap: Demographics & People
Pennington Gap is home to 1,798 people, in 682 households. Population shrank 11.0% from 2,020 (2022) to 1,798 (2024). Median age 34.3 years. (11.2y younger than Lee County; 3.5y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 32% of the population. Population is 95% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.04). 56% of households are family-led. County is gaining 141 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 44% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 107 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 11.0% from 2,020 (2022) to 1,798 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,605 (extrapolated at -5.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,370.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 22,173 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -11.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,020 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,798 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 1,798 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,370 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 34.3y is 4.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 32% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 34.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 32.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,798 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 585 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 330.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 540.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 343 |
| Population under 18 | 585 |
| Median age | 34.3 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 1,798 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.04 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,912 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 35 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 3.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 98.1% |
| Black population | 1.6% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 0.4% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 95.2% (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). 0.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,199 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 573 |
| Share born in this state | 66.7% |
| Share born in another state | 33.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 31.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 9 |
| From Europe | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
682 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 56% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 428 families, 6% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 659 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 428 |
| Married couples with children | 24 |
| Single-parent households | 9 |
| Average household size | 2.68 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 16 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 8 |
| Family households | 383 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 56.2% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 682 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. 13.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 141 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 13.5% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 240 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 11.3% |
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. 121 residents live in group quarters (6.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 121 |
|---|
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 | 2.60 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 32.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,798, shrinking, young professional, lower-income, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,798 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Lee County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade