Rural Retreat town, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Rural Retreat town is a small community located in Virginia. The total population is 1,614. It ranks as the 309th most populous out of 681 cities and towns in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rural Retreat town is 41.9 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 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 Rural Retreat town is $60,114. This is 34% lower than the state median of $90,974. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.4%. This is 106% 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 1.9%. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $167,900. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Rural Retreat town is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rural Retreat town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.5% vs 59.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 10.7%.

Education

24.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% 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 94.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rural Retreat 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.