Cave Spring: Demographics & People
Cave Spring is home to 25,742 people, in 11,043 households. Population shrank 1.1% from 26,014 (2022) to 25,742 (2024). Median age 42.4 years. (1.1y younger than Roanoke County; 4.6y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 79% White (non-Hispanic) and 7% Asian. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.27). 64% of households are family-led. County is gaining 719 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 34% adult obesity, 14% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 36% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 62 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.1% from 26,014 (2022) to 25,742 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~25,472 (extrapolated at -0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 25,114.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 96,929 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 26,014 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 25,742 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 25,742 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 25,114 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.4y is 3.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 25,742 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 5,029 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 5,552.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 10,328.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 4,833 |
| Population under 18 | 5,029 |
| Median age | 42.4 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 25,742 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.27 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 21,647 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 979 |
| Asian residents | 1,848 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,092 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 27.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 84.7% |
| Asian population | 6.9% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 3.8% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 5.6% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 79.1% (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). 2.0% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 11% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 12,811 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 9,508 |
| Share born in this state | 49.8% |
| Share born in another state | 50.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 36.9% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 11.3% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 2,826 |
| From Europe | 513 |
| From Asia | 27 |
| From Africa | 1,467 |
Households & Family Composition
11,043 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 64% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 6,807 families, 32% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 5,309 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 6,807 |
| Married couples with children | 2,163 |
| Single-parent households | 444 |
| Average household size | 2.37 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 12.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 183 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 80 |
| Family households | 7,106 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 64.3% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 11,043 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. 10.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 719 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 96,731 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 96,012 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 719 |
| 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 | 1,242 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.8% |
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. 48 residents live in group quarters (0.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 48 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-09 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51161 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 161 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Roanoke |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 7.4% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 6.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 9.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51161 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Roanoke County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,584 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51161 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Roanoke County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 57.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 50.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 11.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 94,186 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 25,742, declining, established, upper-middle, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 25,742 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Roanoke County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade