Parksley, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 867, Parksley'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

Parksley is a small community located in Virginia, within Accomack County. The total population is 867. It ranks as the 403rd most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Parksley is 37.0 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 39.0 years. With 30.0% of the population under 18, Parksley has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Parksley is $76,875. This is 17% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 5.2%. This is 48% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $163,100. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $383,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Parksley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Parksley is Black or African American, making up 46.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 36.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (46.9% vs 18.3%). The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 6.9%.

Education

21.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 77.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Parksley, 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.