Census-designated place · Virginia
Great Falls, Virginia
Great Falls, census-designated place, in Fairfax County, Virginia. Great Falls had 15,228 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±901). GEOID 5132496.
Residents, 2020-2024
15,228
±901 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 15,953
Median household income
$250,000 or more
The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$1,411,000
±$85,906 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$3,500 or more
The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Great Falls and what county is it in?
Great Falls is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Fairfax County, Virginia. It covers 25.4 square miles of land, 629 residents per square mile in 2020.
Great Falls is in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 23 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Great Falls, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Great Falls's population at 15,228 (±901). The 2020 Census counted 15,953 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Great Falls is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Great Falls | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,228 ±901 | 1,147,837 | no clear change |
| Households | 4,970 ±257 | 414,101 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.06 ±0.15 | 2.75 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,100 ±250 | 430,047 | no clear change |
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 Great Falls?
The median resident of Great Falls is 45.7 years old; 26.3% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.8%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 23.7%. 23.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Great Falls | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 ±1.6 | 39.1 | −3.7 |
| Under 18 years | 26.3% ±2.2 pts | 22.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.1% ±2.1 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Male | 49.7% ±1.8 pts | 49.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.6% ±1.5 pts | 17.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.8% ±3.8 pts | 46.8% | −8.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±1.0 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 23.7% ±3.6 pts | 19.9% | +5.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.0% ±1.7 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 23.0% ±2.6 pts | 30.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 29.5% ±3.5 pts | 39.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.6% ±1.6 pts | 7.5% | – |
| With a disability | 6.9% ±1.3 pts | 8.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.3% ±1.1 pts | 7.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 99.0% ±0.5 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 85.3% ±2.0 pts | 65.0% | +4.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 51.4% ±3.2 pts | 33.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.0% ±3.4 pts | 87.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±1.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
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 Great Falls earn?
Half of Great Falls's 4,970 households earn less than $250,000 or more a year (), against $153,637 in Fairfax County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $250,000 or more in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $43,058 after inflation. 2.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Great Falls | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $250,000 or more | $153,637 | −$43,058 |
| Mean household income | $405,800 ±$30,667 | $195,941 | – |
| Per capita income | $131,942 ±$10,168 | $71,828 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 2.2% ±1.0 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.4% ±1.2 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.4% ±0.6 pts | 98.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 98.8% ±0.7 pts | 96.4% | – |
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 Great Falls?
Owners occupy 95.0% of Great Falls's occupied homes and renters 5.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,411,000 by its owner (±$85,906). The median renter pays $3,500 or more a month including utilities.
| Measure | Great Falls | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,411,000 ±$85,906 | $732,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $3,500 or more | $2,276 | −$272 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 16.3% ±18.4 pts | 36.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $3,227 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 95.0% ±2.3 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 5.0% ±2.3 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 5,100 ±250 | 430,047 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.4% ±4.0 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 99.3% ±0.6 pts | 45.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.9% ±1.8 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.5% ±0.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.7% ±0.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
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 do people in Great Falls work and get to work?
47.8% of Great Falls's workers drive alone and 44.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.
| Measure | Great Falls | Fairfax County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.6% ±3.1 pts | 70.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% ±1.3 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 47.8% ±4.0 pts | 55.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.2% ±1.3 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.1% ±1.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 44.2% ±4.1 pts | 28.7% | +32.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 33.5 min ±2.9 | 28.9 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 Great Falls?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Great Falls, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $250,000 or more (Tract 4804.01) to $250,000 or more (Tract 4801).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4804.02Fairfax County | 5,531 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4804.01Fairfax County | 4,617 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4801Fairfax County | 4,149 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4803.01Fairfax County | 2,984 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 4803.02Fairfax County | 4,508 | $250,000 or more |
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 Great Falls) · Census block assignment files
How does Great Falls compare with other places in Virginia?
Great Falls ranks 1st of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 92nd | 374 |
| Residents per square mile | 286th | 374 |
| Median household income | 1st | 365 |
| Per capita income | 1st | 374 |
| Median home value | 2nd | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 1st | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 253rd | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4th | 359 |
| Median age | 65th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 21st | 368 |
| Work from home | 6th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 55th | 372 |
Great Falls's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Great Falls 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 Great Falls?
11 of the 57 figures for Great Falls 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 Great Falls 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' school search.