Cheriton, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 555, Cheriton'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

Cheriton is a small community located in Virginia, within Northampton County. The total population is 555. It ranks as the 464th most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cheriton is 51.0 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 11.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.5% 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 Cheriton is $49,191. This is 47% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.0%. This is 193% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Cheriton, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $205,500. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 58.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cheriton is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 38.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (38.6% vs 18.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 11.0%.

Education

13.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% 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 87.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cheriton, 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.