Town · Virginia

Colonial Beach, Virginia

Colonial Beach, town, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Colonial Beach had 4,151 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,908 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,966 (±23). GEOID 5118400.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

4,151

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,908 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,966 ±23

Median household income

$60,513

±$9,233 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170

Median home value

$268,200

±$19,780 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700

Median gross rent

$620

±$459 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579

Where is Colonial Beach and what county is it in?

Colonial Beach is a town in Westmoreland County, Virginia. It covers 2.4 square miles of land, 1,596 residents per square mile in 2020.

Colonial Beach (marked with a dot) in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Colonial Beach, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 4,151 people lived in Colonial Beach on July 1, 2025, up 6.4% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 3,908 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,966 (±23).

  • July 2020→2021 +53 (3,962)
  • 2021→2022 −14 (3,948)
  • 2022→2023 +52 (4,000)
  • 2023→2024 +74 (4,074)
  • 2024→2025 +77 (4,151)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Colonial BeachWestmoreland CountyVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Total population 3,966 ±23 18,826 8,705,170 +392
Households 1,793 ±220 8,149 3,365,732 no clear change
Average household size 2.18 ±0.27 2.30 2.52 no clear change
Housing units 2,510 ±249 11,448 3,684,756 no clear change

Colonial Beach's population since 2000

From 3,228 in 2000 to 4,151 in 2025: up 28.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Colonial Beach as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 3,228
  • 2005 (estimate) 3,304
  • 2010 Census 3,542
  • 2015 (estimate) 3,538
  • 2020 Census 3,908
  • 2025 (estimate) 4,151

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Colonial Beach?

The median resident of Colonial Beach is 46.0 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 24.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 72.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 19.5%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Colonial BeachWestmoreland CountyVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Median age 46.0 ±10.5 47.7 39.0 no clear change
Under 18 years 21.1% ±4.6 pts 17.9% 21.7% –
65 years and over 24.2% ±4.7 pts 26.6% 16.7% –
Male 48.9% ±5.6 pts 48.0% 49.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% ±1.4 pts 6.4% 11.0% –
White alone, not Hispanic 72.2% ±6.0 pts 62.3% 58.4% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 19.5% ±5.8 pts 23.2% 18.3% no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic 1.4% ±1.4 pts 1.0% 6.9% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.4% ±0.5 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 0.0% 0.1% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 5.5% ±3.8 pts 6.0% 4.7% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.0 pts 1.0% 0.6% –
Born outside the United States 1.5% ±1.3 pts 4.8% 13.1% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 2.7% ±1.7 pts 7.1% 17.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 15.9% ±5.6 pts 10.5% 9.4% –
With a disability 21.9% ±6.1 pts 17.5% 12.5% –
No health insurance coverage 6.2% ±3.0 pts 8.2% 6.9% −7.5 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 90.1% ±4.2 pts 87.8% 91.6% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 28.8% ±7.9 pts 22.5% 42.2% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 12.3% ±5.2 pts 8.8% 18.5% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 89.4% ±5.6 pts 91.8% 86.9% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.2% ±1.1 pts 1.7% 3.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Colonial Beach earn?

Half of Colonial Beach's 1,793 households earn less than $60,513 a year (±$9,233), against $63,398 in Westmoreland County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $53,651 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 24.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Colonial BeachWestmoreland CountyVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $60,513 ±$9,233 $63,398 $93,170 no clear change
Mean household income $76,302 ±$9,413 $90,002 $128,260 –
Per capita income $36,186 ±$4,141 $39,344 $50,666 no clear change
People below the poverty line 24.4% ±8.4 pts 14.0% 9.9% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 34.2% ±20.1 pts 18.6% 12.3% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 29.8% ±11.0 pts 20.1% 9.1% –
Households with a computer 93.4% ±4.5 pts 88.8% 95.4% –
Households with a broadband subscription 88.6% ±5.0 pts 82.7% 91.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Colonial Beach?

Owners occupy 79.9% of Colonial Beach's occupied homes and renters 20.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $268,200 by its owner (±$19,780).

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Colonial BeachWestmoreland CountyVirginia Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $268,200 ±$19,780 $269,600 $383,700 no clear change
Median gross rent $620 ±$459 $1,018 $1,579 –
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 38.9% ±21.4 pts 36.2% 39.4% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,744 ±$319 $1,515 $2,127 –
Owner-occupied homes 79.9% ±8.0 pts 80.1% 67.3% +22.2 pts
Renter-occupied homes 20.1% ±8.0 pts 19.9% 32.7% –
Housing units 2,510 ±249 11,448 3,684,756 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 4.8% ±5.1 pts 1.2% 0.8% –
Rental vacancy rate 24.8% ±23.4 pts 10.0% 4.8% –
Single-family detached homes 82.4% ±6.2 pts 87.5% 61.3% –
Mobile homes 0.8% ±0.9 pts 7.6% 4.3% –
Built 2020 or later 2.1% ±1.9 pts 1.5% 1.7% –
Built 2010 to 2019 5.5% ±3.0 pts 10.2% 9.9% –
Built 1939 or earlier 7.0% ±4.6 pts 8.3% 7.0% –
Households with no vehicle 5.7% ±4.0 pts 6.1% 6.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Colonial Beach building?

Colonial Beach last reported building permits to the Census Bureau for 2020.

  • 2019 4 units
  • 2020 0 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Colonial Beach work and get to work?

83.4% of Colonial Beach's workers drive alone and 10.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 40.1 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Colonial BeachWestmoreland CountyVirginia Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 43.4% ±6.1 pts 52.2% 65.4% –
Unemployment rate 1.3% ±2.1 pts 7.3% 4.3% –
Drove alone to work 83.4% ±9.0 pts 75.9% 67.6% –
Carpooled 0.9% ±1.5 pts 8.0% 8.0% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±2.9 pts 0.1% 2.3% –
Walked 4.5% ±5.1 pts 1.7% 2.1% –
Worked from home 10.8% ±6.4 pts 13.4% 18.3% –
Mean travel time to work 40.1 min ±5.9 42.7 min 27.3 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Colonial Beach?

1 census tract lies mostly in Colonial Beach, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Colonial Beach, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Colonial Beach
Tract 104.02Westmoreland County3,610 $54,821 $261,50099%
Tract 104.01Westmoreland County2,786 $77,500 $284,3007%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Colonial Beach) · Census block assignment files

How does Colonial Beach compare with other places in Virginia?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Colonial Beach is the 5,411th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 71st-most populous of 227 in Virginia.

Colonial Beach ranks 273rd of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Colonial Beach's rank in Virginia (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate71st227
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)21st139
Residents per square mile173rd374
Median household income273rd365
Per capita income237th374
Median home value234th359
Poverty rate23rd263
Bachelor's degree or higher228th359
Median age64th372
Owner-occupied share111th368
Work from home221st286
Travel time to work15th372

Colonial Beach's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)

Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Colonial Beach with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Colonial Beach?

18 of the 57 figures for Colonial Beach on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Colonial Beach are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Colonial Beach.