Merrimac: Demographics & People
Merrimac is home to 2,733 people, in 1,492 households. Population shrank 7.5% from 2,955 (2022) to 2,733 (2024). Median age 43.7 years. (13.5y older than Montgomery County; 5.9y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 8% of the population. Population is 76% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.40). 31% of households are family-led. County is losing 1,461 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 1.8 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 69% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 76 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 7.5% from 2,955 (2022) to 2,733 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,531 (extrapolated at -3.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,277.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 99,721 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -7.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,955 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,733 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 2,733 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 2,277 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 43.7y is 4.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 8% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 43.7 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 7.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,733 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 211 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 767.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 787.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 968 |
| Population under 18 | 211 |
| Median age | 43.7 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 2,733 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.40 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 2,099 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 134 |
| Asian residents | 159 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 379 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 40.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 75.7% |
| Asian population | 5.6% (at Virginia median) |
| Black population | 4.5% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 7.9% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 75.7% (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 (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%. 16% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,037 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,186 |
| Share born in this state | 37.9% |
| Share born in another state | 62.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 43.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 16.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 378 |
| From Europe | 56 |
| From Africa | 194 |
Households & Family Composition
1,492 households. Averaging 1.8 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 31% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 450 families, 20% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 280 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 450 |
| Married couples with children | 92 |
| Average household size | 1.83 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 9 |
| Family households | 456 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 30.6% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,492 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. 16.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 1,461 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 16.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 71,381 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 72,842 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -1,461 |
| 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 | 135 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.3% |
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. 151 residents live in group quarters (5.5% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 151 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-09 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51121 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 121 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Montgomery |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 5.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 4.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 6.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51121 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Montgomery County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 3,137 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51121 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Montgomery County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 56.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 47.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 44.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 98,535 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 7.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,733, shrinking, established, middle-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,733 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Montgomery County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade