Saluda, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 615, Saluda'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

Saluda is a small community located in Virginia, within Middlesex County. The total population is 615. It ranks as the 442nd most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Saluda is 39.1 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.0 years. Only 10.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 6.5%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Saluda, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $263,800. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $383,700. 50.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Saluda is White (non-Hispanic), making up 57.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 27.3%.

Education

23.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 82.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Saluda, 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.