Lake of the Woods: Demographics & People
7,984 people call Lake of the Woods home, in 3,517 households. Population shrank 2.2% from 8,165 (2022) to 7,984 (2024). Median age 52.8 years. (10.7y older than Orange County; 15.0y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 74% White (non-Hispanic) and 10% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.31). 76% of households are family-led. County is gaining 1,314 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 37% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 24% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 104 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 2.2% from 8,165 (2022) to 7,984 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~7,807 (extrapolated at -1.1%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 7,576.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 36,254 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -2.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 8,165 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 7,984 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 7,984 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 7,576 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 52.8y is 13.9 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 52.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 16.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 7,984 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,325 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 978.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,928.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,753 |
| Population under 18 | 1,325 |
| Median age | 52.8 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 7,984 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.31 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 6,397 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 562 |
| Asian residents | 156 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 640 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 30.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 82.5% |
| Asian population | 2.2% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 6.5% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 9.7% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 73.7% (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). 2.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 8% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 2,443 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,708 |
| Share born in this state | 30.6% |
| Share born in another state | 69.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 59.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 7.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 729 |
| From Europe | 264 |
| From Africa | 390 |
Households & Family Composition
3,517 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 76% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,719 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,486 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,719 |
| Married couples with children | 580 |
| Single-parent households | 29 |
| Average household size | 2.28 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 9.3% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 138 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 23 |
| Family households | 2,656 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 75.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 3,517 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. 14.6% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 1,314 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 14.6% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 39,109 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 37,795 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 1,314 |
| 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 | 565 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.8% |
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. 5 residents live in group quarters (0.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 5 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-07 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51137 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 137 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Orange |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 18.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 14.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 22.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51137 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Orange County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,016 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51137 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Orange County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 52.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 44.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 15.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 37,051 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 16.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 7,984, declining, retirement community, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 7,984 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Orange County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade