Williamsburg: Demographics & People
Williamsburg is home to 15,798 people, in 5,020 households. Population grew 1.5% from 15,564 (2022) to 15,798 (2024). Median age 23.7 years. (14.1y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 10% of the population. Population is 67% White (non-Hispanic) and 14% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.48). 54% of households are family-led. County is gaining 851 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 3.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 46% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 39 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.5% from 15,564 (2022) to 15,798 (2024) — about 2.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~16,035 (extrapolated at 0.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 16,355.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 15,425 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 15,564 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 15,798 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 15,798 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 16,355 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 23.7y is 15.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 10% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 23.7 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 10.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | young community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 15,798 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,664 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 7,867.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,503.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,764 |
| Population under 18 | 1,664 |
| Median age | 23.7 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 15,798 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.48 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 10,608 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 2,372 |
| Asian residents | 1,083 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,247 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 48.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 69.3% |
| Asian population | 6.6% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 14.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 67.2% (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). 2.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 10% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 6,188 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 7,665 |
| Share born in this state | 39.2% |
| Share born in another state | 60.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 48.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 10.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1,307 |
| From Europe | 198 |
| From Africa | 537 |
Households & Family Composition
5,020 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 54% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,490 families, 22% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,628 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,490 |
| Married couples with children | 549 |
| Single-parent households | 24 |
| Average household size | 2.16 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 6.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 196 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 54 |
| Family households | 2,697 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 53.7% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 5,020 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. 27.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 851 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 27.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 13,162 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 12,311 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 851 |
| 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 | 684 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.5% |
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. 4,813 residents live in group quarters (30.5% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 4,813 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51830 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 830 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Williamsburg City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 2.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 1.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 4.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51830 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Williamsburg city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 235 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51830 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Williamsburg city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 45.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 40.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 6.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 14,954 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 21 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 25 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 10.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 15,798, growing, young community, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 15,798 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Williamsburg city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade