Marion: Demographics & People
About 5,670 people live in Marion, in 2,431 households. Population shrank 0.4% from 5,694 (2022) to 5,670 (2024). Median age 44.8 years. (1.6y younger than Smyth County; 7.0y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 84% White (non-Hispanic) and 7% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.18). 53% of households are family-led. County is gaining 694 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 23% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 47% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 65 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.4% from 5,694 (2022) to 5,670 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~5,646 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 5,614.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 29,800 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 5,694 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 5,670 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 5,670 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 5,614 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 44.8y is 5.9 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 44.8 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 17.4% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 5,670 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 989 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,231.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,209.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,241 |
| Population under 18 | 989 |
| Median age | 44.8 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 5,670 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.18 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 5,024 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 377 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 171 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 18.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 90.2% |
| Black population | 6.8% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 83.8% (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). 0.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 4,303 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,274 |
| Share born in this state | 75.9% |
| Share born in another state | 24.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 22.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 57 |
| From Europe | 8 |
| From Africa | 2 |
Households & Family Composition
2,431 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 53% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,278 families, 20% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,035 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,278 |
| Married couples with children | 255 |
| Single-parent households | 72 |
| Average household size | 2.19 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 109 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 21 |
| Family households | 1,299 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 53.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 2,431 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. 13.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 694 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 13.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 23,811 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 23,117 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 694 |
| 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 | 402 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.6% |
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. 563 residents live in group quarters (9.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 563 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51173 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 173 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Smyth |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 25.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 20.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 30.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51173 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Smyth County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,384 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51173 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Smyth County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 57.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 50.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 37.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 30,104 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.40 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 3 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 17.4% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 5,670, stable, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 5,670 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Smyth County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade