Gainesville: Demographics & People
Gainesville's population stands at 18,196 people, in 5,926 households. Population grew 0.9% from 18,036 (2022) to 18,196 (2024). Median age 37.2 years. (0.9y older than Prince William County; 0.6y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 27% of the population. Population is 53% White (non-Hispanic) and 15% Asian. The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.64). 78% of households are family-led. County is losing 8,300 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 33% adult obesity, 12% smoke.
- 3.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 22% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 58 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.9% from 18,036 (2022) to 18,196 (2024) — about 1.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~18,358 (extrapolated at 0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 18,576.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 482,204 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 18,036 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 18,196 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 18,196 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 18,576 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 37.2y is 1.7 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 age | 37.2 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 27.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 18,196 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 4,914 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 3,532.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 7,999.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,751 |
| Population under 18 | 4,914 |
| Median age | 37.2 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 18,196 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.64 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 9,536 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 3,064 |
| Asian residents | 2,676 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 2,314 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 63.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 54.2% |
| Asian population | 14.6% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 14.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 11.6% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 53.0% (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). 2.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 17% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 7,667 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 6,933 |
| Share born in this state | 42.1% |
| Share born in another state | 57.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 38.1% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 17.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3,061 |
| From Europe | 228 |
| From Africa | 1,842 |
| From Latin America | 243 |
Households & Family Composition
5,926 households. Averaging 3.1 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 78% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 4,704 families, 47% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 4,989 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 4,704 |
| Married couples with children | 2,199 |
| Single-parent households | 85 |
| Average household size | 3.06 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 8.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 121 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 64 |
| Family households | 4,591 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 77.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 5,926 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. 12.1% 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) | 12.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 493,472 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 501,772 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -8,300 |
| 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 | 509 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.0% |
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. 113 residents live in group quarters (0.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 113 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 10 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51153 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 153 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Prince William |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 12.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 11.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 13.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51153 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Prince William County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 6,770 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51153 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Prince William County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 91.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 76.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 46.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 470,335 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 8.70 |
| Family Score · Schools | 7 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 14 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 27.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 18,196, stable, family-oriented, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 18,196 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Prince William County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade