Staunton: Demographics & People
25,948 people call Staunton home, in 11,309 households. Population grew 0.7% from 25,765 (2022) to 25,948 (2024). Median age 39.9 years. (2.1y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 78% White (non-Hispanic) and 10% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.30). 54% of households are family-led. County is gaining 485 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 46% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 68 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.7% from 25,765 (2022) to 25,948 (2024) — about 1.2× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~26,132 (extrapolated at 0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 26,379.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 25,750 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 25,765 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 25,948 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 25,948 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 26,379 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 39.9y is 1.0 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 39.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 25,948 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 5,017 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 5,859.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 9,548.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 5,524 |
| Population under 18 | 5,017 |
| Median age | 39.9 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 25,948 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.30 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 20,629 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 2,830 |
| Asian residents | 393 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,141 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 30.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 82.5% |
| Asian population | 1.4% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 10.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.8% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 78.3% (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). 1.0% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 14,907 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 9,872 |
| Share born in this state | 57.4% |
| Share born in another state | 42.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 38.0% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,071 |
| From Europe | 194 |
| From Africa | 330 |
Households & Family Composition
11,309 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 54% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 6,176 families, 23% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 4,937 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 6,176 |
| Married couples with children | 1,445 |
| Single-parent households | 151 |
| Average household size | 2.13 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 18.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 251 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 81 |
| Family households | 6,150 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 54.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 11,309 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. 17.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 485 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 17.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 24,149 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 23,664 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 485 |
| 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 | 1,543 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.2% |
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. 1,727 residents live in group quarters (6.7% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,727 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51790 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 790 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Staunton City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 25.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 20.20 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 30.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51790 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Staunton city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,038 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51790 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Staunton city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 53.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 47.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 3.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 24,932 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 15 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 7 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 25,948, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 25,948 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Staunton city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade