Norton: Demographics & People
3,577 people call Norton home, in 1,605 households. Population shrank 1.2% from 3,620 (2022) to 3,577 (2024). Median age 41.3 years. (3.5y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 92% White (non-Hispanic) and 3% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.03). 54% of households are family-led. County is losing 117 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 46% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 71 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.2% from 3,620 (2022) to 3,577 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~3,534 (extrapolated at -0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 3,478.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,687 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,620 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,577 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 3,577 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 3,478 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 41.3y is 2.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 41.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 3,577 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 722 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 677.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,417.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 761 |
| Population under 18 | 722 |
| Median age | 41.3 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 3,577 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.03 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 3,444 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 48 |
| Asian residents | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 2.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 98.6% |
| Asian population | 0.3% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 2.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.1% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 91.6% (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). 3.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 0% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 2,512 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 934 |
| Share born in this state | 70.2% |
| Share born in another state | 29.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 26.1% |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 2 |
| From Africa | 2 |
Households & Family Composition
1,605 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 54% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 896 families, 22% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 683 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 896 |
| Married couples with children | 200 |
| Single-parent households | 20 |
| Average household size | 2.29 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 75 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 11 |
| Family households | 860 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 53.6% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,605 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. 12.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 117 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 12.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 3,414 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 3,531 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -117 |
| 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 | 391 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.8% |
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. 38 residents live in group quarters (1.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 38 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51720 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 720 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Norton City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 34.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 22.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 51.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51720 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Norton city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 722 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51720 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Norton city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 38.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 32.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 1.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 3,981 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.60 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,577, declining, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,577 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Norton city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade