Tangier, Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 252, Tangier'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

Tangier is a small community located in Virginia, within Accomack County. The total population is 252. It ranks as the 559th most populous out of 681 Census-designated places in Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tangier is 65.9 years. This is 69% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. 28.6% 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 Tangier is $35,991. This is 61% lower than the state median of $93,170. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.0%. This is 80% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 89% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $157,900. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $383,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 95.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 42% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Tangier was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

2.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 94% 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 68.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Tangier, 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.