Atlantic, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 342, Atlantic's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Atlantic is a small community located in Virginia, within Accomack County. The total population is 342. It ranks as the 524th most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Atlantic is 62.1 years. This is 59% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 4.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Atlantic is $107,143. This is 15% higher than the state median of $93,170. It is also 33% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 9% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 11.5%. This is 170% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $252,000. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $383,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Atlantic is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 42% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Atlantic is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.2%. The Asian population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 6.9%.

Education

22.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 42.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Atlantic, Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 681 Census-designated places in Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.