Chester Gap: Demographics & People
726 people call Chester Gap home, in 237 households. Population shrank 19.0% from 896 (2022) to 726 (2024). Median age 35.6 years. (15.0y younger than Rappahannock County; 2.2y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 28% of the population. Population is 82% White (non-Hispanic) and 15% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.29). 76% of households are family-led. County is gaining 182 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 3.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 24% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 87 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 19.0% from 896 (2022) to 726 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~594 (extrapolated at -9.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 444.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 7,348 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -19.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 896 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 726 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 726 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 444 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.6y is 3.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 28% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 28.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 726 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 203 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 151.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 238.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 134 |
| Population under 18 | 203 |
| Median age | 35.6 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 726 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.29 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 720 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 152 |
| Asian residents | 1 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 28.9% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 82.5% |
| Asian population | 0.1% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 15.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 81.5% (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). 0.4% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 0% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 615 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 107 |
| Share born in this state | 84.7% |
| Share born in another state | 15.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 14.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.4% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 23 |
| From Africa | 1 |
Households & Family Composition
237 households. Averaging 3.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 76% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 182 families, 31% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 264 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 182 |
| Married couples with children | 56 |
| Average household size | 3.69 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 4.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 14 |
| Family households | 181 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 76.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 237 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. 3.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 182 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 3.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 6,932 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 6,750 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 182 |
| 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 | 41 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.8% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 10 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-10 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51157 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 157 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Rappahannock |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 10.1% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 5.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 16.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51157 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Rappahannock County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 147 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51157 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Rappahannock County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 68.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 54.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 33.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 7,370 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 28.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 726, shrinking, family-oriented, middle-class, service economy |
| Town Summary · Population | 726 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Rappahannock County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade