Each year, the Weldon Cooper Center develops and releases official population estimates for Virginia counties and independent cities to show population counts between decennial censuses. These estimates provide the best approximation of the population count on July 1 of the prior year. State and local governments use this data for funding allocations, planning and budgeting purposes.
The July 1, 2023 population estimate for the TJPDC region was 272,011, which is about 8,394 residents, or 3.2% higher, than the 2020 Census. In the TJPDC region, Louisa County added 2,838 residents, and its 7.5% growth rate was one of the highest in the state. Albemarle grew by 3,753 residents, or 3.3%. Fluvanna and Greene counties had growth rates between 3% and 4%, while estimated populations in Charlottesville grew by 0.2% and Nelson County decreased by -.04% or 62 residents from the 2020 Census numbers.
Locality | April 1, 2020 Census | July 1, 2023 Estimate | Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|
TJPDC Region | 263,617 | 272,011 | 3.2% |
City of Charlottesville | 51,050 | 51,132 | 0.2% |
Albemarle County | 112,395 | 116,148 | 3.3% |
Fluvanna County | 27,249 | 28,214 | 3.5% |
Greene County | 20,552 | 21,370 | 4.0% |
Louisa County | 37,596 | 40,434 | 7.5% |
Nelson County | 14,775 | 14,713 | -0.4% |
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Across the country, localities with relatively large college populations, including some Virginia localities, were often undercounted in the April 1st, 2020 Census Count. In order to correct this undercount, we have benchmarked the 2020 population estimates on the Weldon Cooper Center estimates instead of the 2020 Census count for localities with populations that are comprised of over 20 percent college students. This includes Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Montgomery County, Prince Edward County, Radford, and Williamsburg.
Additional information is available at Virginia Population Estimates.