Lynchburg: Demographics & People
Lynchburg's population stands at 79,497 people, in 28,701 households. Population grew 0.3% from 79,255 (2022) to 79,497 (2024). Median age 28.6 years. (9.2y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 60% White (non-Hispanic) and 27% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.50). 57% of households are family-led. County is losing 789 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 43% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 51 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.3% from 79,255 (2022) to 79,497 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~79,743 (extrapolated at 0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 80,076.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 79,009 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 79,255 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 79,497 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 79,497 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 80,076 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 28.6y is 10.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 28.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 79,497 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 15,388 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 31,105.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 21,613.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 11,391 |
| Population under 18 | 15,388 |
| Median age | 28.6 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 79,497 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.50 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 49,316 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 21,951 |
| Asian residents | 1,767 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 3,920 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 50.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 64.1% |
| Asian population | 2.2% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 27.0% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 5.1% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 59.9% (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). 1.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 45,154 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 29,397 |
| Share born in this state | 56.8% |
| Share born in another state | 43.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 37.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3,302 |
| From Europe | 370 |
| From Asia | 22 |
| From Africa | 1,182 |
| Census Foreign Born · South America | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
28,701 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 57% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 16,816 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 15,306 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 16,816 |
| Married couples with children | 3,614 |
| Single-parent households | 418 |
| Average household size | 2.39 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 12.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 1,415 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 723 |
| Family households | 16,339 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 56.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 28,701 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. 20.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 789 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 20.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 64,217 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 65,006 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -789 |
| 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 | 4,744 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.1% |
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. 10,830 residents live in group quarters (13.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 10,830 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51680 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 680 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Lynchburg City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 12.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 10.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 14.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51680 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Lynchburg city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 6,518 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51680 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Lynchburg city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 35.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 30.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 1.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 82,168 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 29 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 35 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 79,497, stable, young community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 79,497 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Lynchburg city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade