Waverly: Demographics & People
Waverly's population stands at 2,324 people, in 877 households. Population shrank 11.6% from 2,629 (2022) to 2,324 (2024). Median age 38.6 years. (2.2y younger than Sussex County; 0.8y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 26% of the population. Population is 78% Black and 19% White (non-Hispanic). The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.32). 66% of households are family-led. County is gaining 214 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 44% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 34% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 87 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 11.6% from 2,629 (2022) to 2,324 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,062 (extrapolated at -5.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,743.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 10,829 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -11.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,629 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,324 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 2,324 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,743 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 38.6y is 0.3 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 26% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 38.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 25.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,324 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 599 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 464.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 777.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 484 |
| Population under 18 | 599 |
| Median age | 38.6 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 2,324 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.32 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 480 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 2,050 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 18 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 31.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 80.5% |
| Black population | 77.9% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.2% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 19.1% (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).
| Residents born in this state | 1,916 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 395 |
| Share born in this state | 82.4% |
| Share born in another state | 17.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 17.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 102 |
| From Europe | 2 |
| From Africa | 2 |
Households & Family Composition
877 households. Averaging 2.8 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 66% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 586 families, 24% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 657 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 586 |
| Married couples with children | 138 |
| Single-parent households | 102 |
| Average household size | 2.82 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 11.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 284 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 204 |
| Family households | 583 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 66.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 877 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. 8.9% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 214 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.9% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 7,831 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 7,617 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 214 |
| 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 | 121 |
|---|---|
| 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. 94 residents live in group quarters (4.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 94 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 4 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-04 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51183 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 183 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Sussex |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 20.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 14.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 29.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51183 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Sussex County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 354 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51183 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Sussex County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 42.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 36.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 27.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 11,159 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.80 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 25.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,324, shrinking, family-oriented, middle-class, service economy |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,324 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Sussex County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade