Cape Charles: Demographics & People
Census counts 1,201 people in Cape Charles, in 684 households. Population shrank 6.0% from 1,278 (2022) to 1,201 (2024). Median age 60.5 years. (8.0y older than Northampton County; 22.7y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 8% of the population. Population is 82% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.30). 46% of households are family-led. County is gaining 97 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 1.8 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 54% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 85 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 6.0% from 1,278 (2022) to 1,201 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,129 (extrapolated at -3.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,038.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,282 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -6.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,278 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,201 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 1,201 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,038 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 60.5y is 21.6 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 | 60.5 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 8.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,201 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 98 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 218.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 432.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 453 |
| Population under 18 | 98 |
| Median age | 60.5 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 1,201 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.30 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 1,115 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 88 |
| Asian residents | 6 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 140 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 30.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 82.7% |
| Asian population | 0.4% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 7.9% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 81.9% (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). 2.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 432 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 679 |
| Share born in this state | 36.0% |
| Share born in another state | 64.0% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 56.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 53 |
| From Europe | 35 |
| From Africa | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
684 households. Averaging 1.9 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 46% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 288 families, 8% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 111 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 288 |
| Married couples with children | 23 |
| Single-parent households | 8 |
| Average household size | 1.88 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 316 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 100 |
| Family households | 317 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 46.3% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 684 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. 15.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 97 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 15.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 10,716 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 10,619 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 97 |
| 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 | 98 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.6% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51131 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 131 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Northampton |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 29.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 21.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 38.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51131 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Northampton County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 461 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51131 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Northampton County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 80.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 73.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 55.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 11,710 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 1.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 8.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,201, shrinking, retirement community, middle-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,201 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Northampton County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade