Dale City: Demographics & People

Dale City is home to 71,016 people, in 21,474 households. Population shrank 2.4% from 72,793 (2022) to 71,016 (2024). Median age 35.2 years. (1.1y younger than Prince William County; 2.6y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 27% of the population. Population is 34% Hispanic or Latino and 23% White (non-Hispanic). The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.72). 78% of households are family-led. County is losing 8,300 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 12% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population shrank 2.4% from 72,793 (2022) to 71,016 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~69,293 (extrapolated at -1.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 67,039.

Census data vintage2024
Population482,204 people
Annual growth rate · Population change-2.4%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)72,793
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)71,016
Annual growth rate · Trend categorydeclining
Population71,016 people (vs Virginia 42,214) population: 4 observations from 2026-04-17 to 2026-04-28
Population Estimate67,039

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 35.2y is 3.7 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 27% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age35.2 years (vs Virginia 37.8y)
Age Summary · Children Pct26.6%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Age Summary · Total Pop71,016
Age Summary · Under 1818,916
Age Summary · 18 To 3416,352.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 6427,687.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus8,061
Population under 1818,916
Median age35.2 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 71,016 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.72 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.

White residents22,758
Black residents17,538
Asian residents8,096
Hispanic or Latino residents25,761
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)71.7%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelhighly diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share34.7%
Asian population11.9% (vs Virginia 5.6%)
Black population23.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%)
Hispanic or Latino population33.8% (vs Virginia 10.1%)
White (non-Hispanic) population23.4% (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)

(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Asian
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Puerto Rican
(unnamed)
American
(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Irish

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.9% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 33% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.

Residents born in this state27,232
Residents born in another state18,487
Share born in this state38.3%
Share born in another state61.7%
Native-born U.S. citizens26.0%
Foreign-born residents2.9%
Naturalized citizens32.7%
Total foreign-born residents24,351
From Europe582
From Asia23
From Africa6,657
From Latin America1,225
Census Foreign Born · Caribbean25

Households & Family Composition

21,474 households. Averaging 3.4 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 78% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 16,962 families, 37% are married couples with children.

Children under 1819,824
Total families16,962
Married couples with children6,284
Single-parent households682
Average household size3.39
Women who gave birth (past year)9.7%
Grandparents living with grandchildren2,159
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren1,132
Family households16,713 households (vs Virginia 9,367)
Households that are families77.8% (vs Virginia 65.0%)
Total households21,474 households (vs Virginia 14,324) total_households: 2 observations from 2026-04-23 to 2026-04-23

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 8.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 8,300 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)8.3%
Migration · People moving in (annual)493,472
Migration · People moving out (annual)501,772
Migration · Net migration (in − out)-8,300
Migration · Year2022-2023

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 disability3,121
Disability rate4.2%

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. 40 residents live in group quarters (0.1% of population).

Living in group quarters40

Other

Congressional District · District7
Congressional District · FormattedVA-07
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips51153
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips51
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips153
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyPrince William
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate12.8%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci11.90
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci13.70
Cdc Mortality · Fips51153
Cdc Mortality · CountyPrince William County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralLarge fringe metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20236,770
Cdc Vaccination · Fips51153
Cdc Vaccination · CountyPrince William County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct91.8%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct76.3%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct46.6%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019470,335
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score10
Family Score · Schools20
Family Score · Childcare Centers5
Family Score · Children Pct26.6%
Family Score · Ratingexcellent
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 71,016, declining, family-oriented, affluent, mixed
Town Summary · Population71,016 people (vs Virginia 42,214)
Town Summary · CountyPrince William County

Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade