Cape Charles, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cape Charles is a small community located in Virginia, within Northampton County. The total population is 1,201. It ranks as the 359th most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cape Charles is 60.5 years. This is 55% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 8.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.6% 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 Cape Charles is $73,750. This is 21% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.2%. This is 33% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $640,600. Housing costs are 67% higher than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 66.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cape Charles is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.3%. The Black or African American population (7.9%) is well below the state average of 18.3%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 6.9%.

Education

59.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% higher 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 92.5%. Notably, 31.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cape Charles, 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.