Radford: Demographics & People
16,726 people call Radford home, in 5,540 households. Population grew 1.3% from 16,505 (2022) to 16,726 (2024). Median age 23.3 years. (14.5y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 12% of the population. Population is 81% White (non-Hispanic) and 9% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.28). 43% of households are family-led. County is gaining 624 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 3.0 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 57% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 28 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.3% from 16,505 (2022) to 16,726 (2024) — about 2.2× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~16,950 (extrapolated at 0.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 17,253.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 16,070 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.3% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 16,505 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 16,726 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 16,726 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 17,253 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 23.3y is 15.6 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 12% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 23.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 12.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 16,726 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 2,086 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 9,017.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 4,022.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,601 |
| Population under 18 | 2,086 |
| Median age | 23.3 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 16,726 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.28 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 13,726 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,543 |
| Asian residents | 367 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 707 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 28.3% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 84.0% |
| Asian population | 2.4% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 9.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.4% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 80.9% (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). 0.6% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 11,660 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,622 |
| Share born in this state | 69.7% |
| Share born in another state | 30.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 27.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.6% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 553 |
| From Europe | 72 |
| From Africa | 372 |
| From Latin America | 19 |
Households & Family Composition
5,540 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 43% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,513 families, 30% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,038 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,513 |
| Married couples with children | 742 |
| Single-parent households | 57 |
| Average household size | 2.44 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 225 |
| Family households | 2,376 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 42.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 5,540 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. 27.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 624 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 27.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 11,687 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 11,063 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 624 |
| 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 | 752 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.6% |
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. 3,113 residents live in group quarters (18.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 3,113 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51750 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 750 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Radford |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 6.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 4.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 8.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51750 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Radford city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 376 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51750 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Radford city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 40.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 35.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 5.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 18,249 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 6.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 7 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 12.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 16,726, growing, young community, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 16,726 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Radford city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade