Population 7,984 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake of the Woods
Household size in Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Lake of the Woods are small: just 2.29 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.45 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.1 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.2 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 54.5 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 54.5, Lake of the Woods is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 48.1, as it has nationally. No other Virginia city with 5,000+ people is 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 Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Lake of the Woods: 7.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Lake of the Woods has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Virginia cities.
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 Lake of the Woods
Renters in Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lake of the Woods is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 4.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About a third of owners (32.5%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 7.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Lake of the Woods is close to the national rate: 10.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Virginia overall (8.7%). Vacancy is down 2.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1993 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1994 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Lake of the Woods is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1994, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,716 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,133 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,402 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,863 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$147 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lake of the Woods costs $1,863 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $147 a month since 2006–10, up 9%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.9% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Lake of the Woods
Bachelor's degrees in Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.8% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.7% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 45.6% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.5 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Lake of the Woods than nationally: 45.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 13.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the west.
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 Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.7% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.3% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.8% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lake of the Woods: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.2 points, in line with the national trend. Lake of the Woods has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Virginia cities.
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 Lake of the Woods
| Period | Lake of the Woods | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.7% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.8% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −11.9 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lake of the Woods has been low: just 0.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Lake of the Woods has the lowest unemployment rate of any Virginia city with 5,000+ people. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 11.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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).
Lake of the Woods 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake of the Woods | 2.29 | 54.5 | 7.0% | 4.4% | 10.8% | 1994 | $1,863 | 45.6% | 96.8% | 0.8% |
| Locust Grove | 3.03 | 34.2 | 7.6% | 8.9% | 7.7% | 2005 | $1,931 | 34.4% | 90.4% | 1.3% |
| Wilderness | 2.87 | 32.1 | 10.0% | 11.0% | 7.7% | 2000 | $1,858 | 26.7% | 89.8% | 2.5% |
| Indian Town | 2.95 | 37.9 | 7.2% | 15.6% | 8.0% | 1998 | $1,803 | 24.0% | 89.2% | 2.6% |
| Richardsville | 2.75 | 40.1 | 4.2% | 21.2% | 8.6% | 1988 | $1,653 | 18.3% | 87.7% | 2.0% |
| Lignum | 2.80 | 38.6 | 4.8% | 20.6% | 8.8% | 1991 | $1,730 | 20.2% | 87.7% | 1.3% |
| Parker | 3.59 | 28.5 | 8.6% | 1.9% | 10.1% | 1998 | $1,658 | 18.9% | 87.9% | 1.8% |
| Burr Hill | 2.91 | 44.4 | 12.9% | 9.4% | 3.7% | 2003 | $1,384 | 17.3% | 93.0% | 5.0% |
| Gold Dale | 3.47 | 29.1 | 8.2% | 3.0% | 10.1% | 1997 | $1,629 | 19.0% | 88.2% | 2.1% |
| Brockroad | 2.92 | 51.5 | 3.7% | 1.6% | 8.5% | 2000 | $1,313 | 31.0% | 90.8% | 1.5% |
| Todds Tavern | 2.83 | 38.3 | 6.6% | 5.5% | 5.2% | 1992 | $1,706 | 19.0% | 78.0% | 0.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Richmond, MO · Medina, TN · Mendenhall, MS · Mendota, IL · Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH · Mercersburg, PA · Middleborough Center, MA · Midway, GA · Mifflinburg, PA · Milan, IL
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 Lake of the Woods. 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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