Rural Retreat: Demographics & People
Rural Retreat's population stands at 1,644 people, in 665 households. Population grew 1.9% from 1,614 (2022) to 1,644 (2024). Median age 41.0 years. (5.0y younger than Wythe County; 3.2y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 26% of the population. Population is 95% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.04). 70% of households are family-led. County is gaining 725 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 30% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 83 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.9% from 1,614 (2022) to 1,644 (2024) — about 3.1× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,674 (extrapolated at 0.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,716.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 28,290 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,614 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,644 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 1,644 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,716 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 41.0y is 2.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 26% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 41.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 26.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,644 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 436 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 224.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 674.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 310 |
| Population under 18 | 436 |
| Median age | 41.0 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 1,644 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.04 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,541 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 36 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 4.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 97.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.8% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 94.6% (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 (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 1,118 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 512 |
| Share born in this state | 68.0% |
| Share born in another state | 32.0% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 31.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 7 |
Households & Family Composition
665 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 70% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 457 families, 24% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 395 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 457 |
| Married couples with children | 108 |
| Single-parent households | 51 |
| Average household size | 2.48 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 38 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 6 |
| Family households | 468 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 70.4% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 665 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. 10.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 725 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 10.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 25,026 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 24,301 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 725 |
| 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 | 74 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.8% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51197 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 197 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Wythe |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 27.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 22.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 33.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51197 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Wythe County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,375 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51197 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Wythe County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 47.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 40.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 38.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 28,684 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 26.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,644, growing, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,644 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Wythe County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade