Nellysford: Demographics & People
Nellysford is home to 1,584 people, in 742 households. Population shrank 2.4% from 1,623 (2022) to 1,584 (2024). Median age 62.3 years. (11.0y older than Nelson County; 24.5y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 15% of the population. Population is 93% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.12). 81% of households are family-led. County is gaining 259 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 35% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 19% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 132 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 2.4% from 1,623 (2022) to 1,584 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,546 (extrapolated at -1.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,496.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 14,775 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -2.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,623 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,584 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 1,584 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,496 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 62.3y is 23.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 15% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 62.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 14.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,584 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 236 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 76.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 608.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 664 |
| Population under 18 | 236 |
| Median age | 62.3 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 1,584 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.12 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,479 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 103 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 12.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 93.5% |
| Asian population | 0.8% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.0% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 92.7% (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).
| Residents born in this state | 553 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 966 |
| Share born in this state | 34.9% |
| Share born in another state | 65.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 61.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 54 |
| From Europe | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
742 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 81% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 624 families, 13% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 218 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 624 |
| Married couples with children | 82 |
| Average household size | 2.16 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 5.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 104 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 48 |
| Family households | 600 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 80.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 742 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. 12.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 259 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 12.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 13,970 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 13,711 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 259 |
| 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 | 124 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.9% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-05 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51125 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 125 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Nelson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 18.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 13.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 25.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51125 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Nelson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 390 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51125 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Nelson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 66.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 57.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 14,930 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 14.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,584, declining, retirement community, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,584 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Nelson County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade