Population 1,296 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Laurel Fork
Household size in Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.03 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.25 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Laurel Fork is a place of small households, averaging 2.03 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 dropped from 2.28, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.4 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.3 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 53.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Laurel Fork skews older: half of its residents are older than 53.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.4% of households in Laurel Fork, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Laurel Fork
Renters in Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.1% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 18.4% of households in Laurel Fork rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About seven in ten owners (72.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 35.1% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.3% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 29.3% of the housing in Laurel Fork, 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.
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 Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Laurel Fork are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1986, versus 1980 across the U.S. That is in line with the rest of Virginia.
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 Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $466 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $525 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $555 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $530 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$64 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Laurel Fork costs $530 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 20.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under 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 Laurel Fork
Bachelor's degrees in Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.0% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Laurel Fork have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.0%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.2% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.4% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 77.7% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.5% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Laurel Fork never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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 Laurel Fork
| Period | Laurel Fork | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.5% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.5% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Laurel Fork has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Laurel Fork 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Fork | 2.03 | 53.7 | 5.4% | 18.4% | 29.3% | 1986 | $530 | 20.0% | 82.5% | 2.3% |
| Gladesboro | 2.12 | 56.3 | 6.9% | 18.0% | 30.8% | 1978 | $612 | 16.6% | 86.4% | 3.6% |
| Kibler | 2.33 | 52.1 | 2.5% | 21.1% | 28.7% | 1980 | $783 | 16.2% | 83.0% | 1.6% |
| Meadows Of Dan | 1.91 | 58.0 | 4.5% | 25.8% | 31.5% | 1974 | $713 | 12.2% | 74.5% | 2.1% |
| Ararat | 2.52 | 51.0 | 5.8% | 18.6% | 32.2% | 1975 | $885 | 15.6% | 84.8% | 4.0% |
| Vesta | 1.99 | 55.7 | 5.3% | 19.8% | 23.5% | 1975 | $728 | 15.0% | 82.2% | 3.7% |
| Dugspur | 2.02 | 53.5 | 4.7% | 15.0% | 27.0% | 1979 | $601 | 21.4% | 82.2% | 3.2% |
| Fancy Gap | 2.12 | 56.6 | 6.9% | 18.7% | 31.9% | 1979 | $715 | 17.5% | 87.9% | 5.7% |
| Willis | 2.31 | 52.7 | 5.9% | 14.1% | 18.6% | 1985 | $815 | 21.0% | 89.0% | 6.4% |
| Hillsville | 2.38 | 47.8 | 10.1% | 29.2% | 18.5% | 1983 | $736 | 15.4% | 87.2% | 4.9% |
| Indian Valley | 2.36 | 52.7 | 2.6% | 3.8% | 10.9% | 1982 | $783 | 16.0% | 89.9% | 0.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Green Bay, VA · Hydes, MD · Hot Springs, VA · Hooper Hill, NC · Hiwassee, VA · Hineston, LA · White Water, CA · Winesburg, OH · Wolf Springs, MS · Hamel, 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 Laurel Fork. 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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