Pennington Gap town, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Pennington Gap town is a small community located in Virginia. The total population is 2,020. It ranks as the 287th most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Pennington Gap town is 32.5 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 38.8 years. With 32.6% of the population under 18, Pennington Gap town has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.4% 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 Pennington Gap town is $22,857. This is 75% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 71% lower. The poverty rate stands at 59.5%. This is 500% 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 21.2%. This is 393% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $86,900. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $360,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.8x. 40.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 40% lower than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Pennington Gap town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.7% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 10.7%.

Education

10.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 76% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 73.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Pennington Gap town, Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. 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. For official data, visit data.census.gov.