Goshen, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 271, Goshen'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

Goshen is a small community located in Virginia, within Rockbridge County. The total population is 271. It ranks as the 550th most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Goshen is 49.9 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 14.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.3% 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 Goshen is $45,000. This is 52% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.3%. This is 176% 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 unemployment rate is 9.0%. This is 112% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $136,100. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 75.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Goshen has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.3% vs 58.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 6.9%.

Education

8.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 79% 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 88.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Goshen, 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.