Population 5,920 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gretna
Household size in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.15 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.11 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Gretna is a place of small households, averaging 2.24 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.19, even as the national average fell. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 52.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Gretna skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 47.8 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only seven are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Gretna (11.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Virginia as a whole (10.7%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Gretna
Renters in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.5% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.3% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Gretna own their homes; 28.3% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 64.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. The renter share is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.4% of the housing in Gretna, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Gretna are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1976, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Virginia as a whole, where the median home dates to 1984. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $496 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $499 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $631 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $783 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$287 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Gretna runs $783 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $287 a month since 2006–10, up 58%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 36.9% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Gretna
Bachelor's degrees in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.7% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Gretna: 13.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.2 points, as it has nationally. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.8% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 71.6% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 75.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 79.7% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Gretna never finished high school, well above the national share: only 79.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 8.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only 11 have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Gretna has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 7.0 points, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Gretna compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gretna | 2.24 | 49.7 | 11.7% | 28.3% | 14.4% | 1976 | $783 | 13.7% | 79.7% | 3.3% |
| Greenfield | 2.27 | 50.1 | 15.9% | 11.2% | 16.6% | 1977 | $792 | 12.9% | 85.1% | 4.2% |
| Whittle | 2.02 | 54.7 | 4.9% | 25.8% | 15.9% | 1973 | $1,040 | 22.5% | 86.4% | 2.1% |
| Sycamore | 2.14 | 51.9 | 14.3% | 30.9% | 17.6% | 1981 | $634 | 10.1% | 77.3% | 1.5% |
| Redeye | 2.18 | 45.5 | 11.2% | 26.7% | 11.8% | 1971 | $1,118 | 17.0% | 78.8% | 22.0% |
| Pittsville | 2.28 | 52.8 | 9.3% | 27.9% | 29.0% | 1982 | $597 | 12.7% | 81.6% | 2.3% |
| Level Run | 2.33 | 48.9 | 14.8% | 18.9% | 15.1% | 1975 | $817 | 12.4% | 88.1% | 6.6% |
| Renan | 2.39 | 57.9 | 7.2% | 10.2% | 18.0% | 1972 | $733 | 14.9% | 88.8% | 1.9% |
| Motley | 2.13 | 51.3 | 15.3% | 34.5% | 17.7% | 1980 | $605 | 10.9% | 77.5% | 1.6% |
| Mount Airy | 2.84 | 37.2 | 20.0% | 25.2% | 27.6% | 1979 | $810 | 7.4% | 71.6% | 11.1% |
| Hurt | 2.36 | 48.6 | 14.7% | 25.8% | 13.0% | 1974 | $866 | 10.7% | 84.7% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Moon Lake, FL · New Hartford, CT · New Hampton, IA · New Gloucester, ME · Morrison, IL · Morris, MN · Morgantown, IN · Moraine, OH · Moosup, CT · Moosic, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Gretna. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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