Mathews: Demographics & People
About 941 people live in Mathews, in 391 households. Population shrank 17.8% from 1,145 (2022) to 941 (2024). Median age 35.3 years. (19.7y younger than Mathews County; 2.5y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 28% of the population. Population is 91% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.10). 66% of households are family-led. County is gaining 87 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 34% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 119 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 17.8% from 1,145 (2022) to 941 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~780 (extrapolated at -8.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 595.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 8,533 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -17.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,145 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 941 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 941 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 595 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.3y is 3.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 28% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 27.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 941 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 261 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 201.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 228.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 251 |
| Population under 18 | 261 |
| Median age | 35.3 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 941 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.10 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,089 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 52 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 6 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 9.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 94.9% |
| Black population | 6.5% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.6% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 91.2% (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 (5)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 792 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 141 |
| Share born in this state | 84.2% |
| Share born in another state | 15.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 15.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 95 |
Households & Family Composition
391 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 66% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 337 families, 12% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 361 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 337 |
| Married couples with children | 42 |
| Single-parent households | 66 |
| Average household size | 2.40 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 23 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 4 |
| Family households | 258 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 66.0% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 391 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. 11.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 87 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 11.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 8,097 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 8,010 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 87 |
| 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 | 54 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.2% |
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. 62 residents live in group quarters (6.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 62 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51115 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 115 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Mathews |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 8.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 4.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 13.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51115 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Mathews County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 352 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51115 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Mathews County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 69.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 63.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 53.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 8,834 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.90 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 3 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 27.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 941, shrinking, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 941 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Mathews County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade