Bluefield: Demographics & People
4,979 people call Bluefield home, in 2,037 households. Population shrank 0.7% from 5,016 (2022) to 4,979 (2024). Median age 42.2 years. (2.8y younger than Tazewell County; 4.4y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 88% White (non-Hispanic) and 6% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.27). 68% of households are family-led. County is gaining 136 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 19% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 32% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 85 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.7% from 5,016 (2022) to 4,979 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~4,942 (extrapolated at -0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 4,893.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 40,429 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 5,016 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 4,979 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 4,979 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 4,893 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.2y is 3.3 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.2 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 4,979 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,034 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,263.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,425.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,257 |
| Population under 18 | 1,034 |
| Median age | 42.2 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 4,979 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.27 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 4,327 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 545 |
| Asian residents | 78 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 150 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 26.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 84.8% |
| Asian population | 1.6% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 5.5% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.5% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 88.5% (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). 0.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,705 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 3,063 |
| Share born in this state | 34.2% |
| Share born in another state | 65.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 61.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 105 |
| From Europe | 27 |
| From Asia | 4 |
| From Africa | 78 |
Households & Family Composition
2,037 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 68% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,445 families, 19% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,081 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,445 |
| Married couples with children | 277 |
| Single-parent households | 51 |
| Average household size | 2.26 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 71 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 12 |
| Family households | 1,392 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 68.3% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 2,037 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. 8.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 136 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 31,196 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 31,060 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 136 |
| 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 | 341 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.8% |
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. 324 residents live in group quarters (6.5% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 324 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51185 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 185 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Tazewell |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 30.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 26.00 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 35.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51185 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Tazewell County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 2,118 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51185 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Tazewell County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 53.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 45.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 39.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 40,595 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.30 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 4,979, stable, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 4,979 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Tazewell County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade