Southern Gateway: Demographics & People
2,771 people call Southern Gateway home, in 1,158 households. Population grew 24.6% from 2,224 (2022) to 2,771 (2024). Median age 32.4 years. (3.9y younger than Stafford County; 5.4y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 37% White (non-Hispanic) and 27% Black. The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.62). 55% of households are family-led. County is gaining 3,695 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 37% adult obesity, 12% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 45% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 34 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 24.6% from 2,224 (2022) to 2,771 (2024) — about 41.0× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~3,494 (extrapolated at 12.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 4,629.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 156,927 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 24.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,224 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,771 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 2,771 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 4,629 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 32.4y is 6.5 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 32.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,771 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 543 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 946.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,117.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 165 |
| Population under 18 | 543 |
| Median age | 32.4 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 2,771 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.62 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.
| White residents | 1,184 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 557 |
| Asian residents | 84 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 408 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 62.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | highly diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 53.0% |
| Asian population | 3.6% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 27.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 12.6% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 37.1% (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). 3.6% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 19% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 811 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,341 |
| Share born in this state | 29.3% |
| Share born in another state | 70.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 48.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.6% |
| Naturalized citizens | 18.7% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 446 |
| From Europe | 44 |
| From Africa | 51 |
Households & Family Composition
1,158 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 55% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 532 families, 61% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 395 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 532 |
| Married couples with children | 326 |
| Single-parent households | 18 |
| Average household size | 2.45 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 25.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 2,589 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 911 |
| Family households | 640 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 55.3% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,158 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. 52.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 3,695 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 52.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 174,464 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 170,769 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 3,695 |
| 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 | 109 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.3% |
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. 24 residents live in group quarters (0.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 24 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-07 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51179 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 179 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Stafford |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 9.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 8.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 10.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51179 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Stafford County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,230 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51179 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Stafford County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 77.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 61.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 36.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 152,882 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,771, booming, young professional, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,771 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Stafford County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade