Cheriton: Demographics & People
About 555 people live in Cheriton, in 257 households. Population grew 1.3% from 548 (2022) to 555 (2024). Median age 51.0 years. (1.5y younger than Northampton County; 13.2y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 12% of the population. Population is 44% White (non-Hispanic) and 39% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.54). 70% of households are family-led. County is gaining 97 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 30% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 91 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.3% from 548 (2022) to 555 (2024) — about 2.1× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~562 (extrapolated at 0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 571.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,282 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 548 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 555 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 555 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 571 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 51.0y is 12.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 12% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 51.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 11.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 555 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 66 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 100.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 191.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 198 |
| Population under 18 | 66 |
| Median age | 51.0 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 555 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.54 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 244 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 207 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 24 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 54.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 51.4% |
| Black population | 38.6% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.7% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 44.3% (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 | 377 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 149 |
| Share born in this state | 67.9% |
| Share born in another state | 32.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 26.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 5.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 46 |
Households & Family Composition
257 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 70% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 172 families, 10% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 88 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 172 |
| Married couples with children | 18 |
| Single-parent households | 2 |
| Average household size | 2.29 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 31.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 32 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 32 |
| Family households | 181 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 70.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 257 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. 13.4% 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) | 13.4% |
|---|---|
| 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 | 65 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 11.6% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-02 |
| 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 | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 11.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 555, growing, retirement community, working-class, service economy |
| Town Summary · Population | 555 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Northampton County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade