Southampton County: Demographics & People

Southampton County's population stands at 17,964 people, in 6,868 households. Median age 47.3 years. (9.5y older than Virginia). Population is 29% Black and 3% Hispanic or Latino. County is gaining 467 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 17% smoke.

Population & Trend

Current population 17,964; figures track the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimates.

Population17,964 people (vs Virginia 42,214) population: 3 observations from 2026-04-17 to 2026-04-23
Total Town Population3,688 people

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Age Distribution

Median age 47.3y is 8.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y).

Age Summary · Total Pop17,964
Age Summary · Under 183,346
Age Summary · 18 To 343,044.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 647,615.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus3,959
Age Summary · Pct Under 1818.6%
Age Summary · Pct 18 To 3416.9%
Age Summary · Pct 35 To 6442.4%
Median age47.3 years (vs Virginia 37.8y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 17,964 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).

Census Demographics · Total Population17,964 people
White residents11,038
Black residents5,240
Asian residents140
Census Demographics · Aian57
Census Demographics · Other Race119
Census Demographics · Two Or More Races1,370
Hispanic or Latino residents453
Diversity Index53.1%
Asian population0.8% (vs Virginia 5.6%)
Black population29.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%)
Hispanic or Latino population2.5% (vs Virginia 10.1%)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 12.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%.

Census Citizenship · Total17,964
Census Citizenship · Native17,618
Residents born in this state12,958
Residents born in another state4,486
Census Citizenship · Foreign Born2,292
Census Citizenship · Naturalized296
Census Citizenship · Non Citizen174
Foreign-born residents12.8%

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Households & Family Composition

6,868 households.

Family households4,734 households (vs Virginia 9,367)
Total households6,868 households (vs Virginia 14,324)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. The surrounding county is gaining 467 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Migration · People moving in (annual)15,282
Migration · People moving out (annual)14,815
Migration · Net migration (in − out)467
Migration · Population growingYes
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2022-2023

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.

Census Disability · Total Pop16,425
With Disability3,220
Pct With Disability19.6%

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

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. 0 residents live in group quarters.

Census Group Quarters · Total1,443

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Other

Census Mobility · Total17,804
Census Mobility · Same House16,565
Census Mobility · Same County186
Census Mobility · Diff County Same State913
Census Mobility · Diff State140
Census Mobility · Moved Total1,239
Census Mobility · Pct Moved In Year7.0%
Pct White61.5%

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29