County · Virginia
Mathews County, Virginia
Mathews County, Virginia. Mathews County had 8,529 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. It holds 2 places (2 census-designated) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 51115.
Mathews County is one of the 18 counties of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,529
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,533 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,540
Median household income
$75,880
±$11,970 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$360,900
±$26,309 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,032
±$324 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
How many people live in Mathews County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,533 residents in Mathews County. The Census Bureau estimates 8,529 for July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,540 over 86 square miles of land.
| Measure | Mathews County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,540 | 8,705,170 | −248 |
| Households | 3,987±241 | 3,365,732 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.11±0.13 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,493±23 | 3,684,756 | −258 |
Mathews County's population since 2000
From 9,207 in 2000 to 8,529 in 2025: down 7.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.
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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Mathews County?
Mathews County holds 2 places: 2 census-designated places. The largest is Gwynn with 514 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| GwynnGEOID 5133824 | 578 | $84,375 |
|---|---|---|
| MathewsGEOID 5150104 | 525 | $55,481 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Mathews County?
The median resident of Mathews County is 55.0 years old; 14.4% are under 18 and 33.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 9.7%. 1.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Mathews County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.0±0.6 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.4%±1.0 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 33.3%±1.0 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.7% | 11.0% | +0.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.6%±0.7 pts | 58.4% | −1.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.7%±1.4 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 6.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8%±1.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±1.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.6%±1.0 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6%±1.0 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.8%±2.2 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 21.6%±4.2 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8%±2.3 pts | 6.9% | −5.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.8%±3.4 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.4%±4.7 pts | 42.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.4%±2.9 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 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 Mathews County earn?
Half of Mathews County's 3,987 households earn less than $75,880 a year (±$11,970), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $79,056 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Mathews County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,880±$11,970 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $99,796±$11,021 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,972±$4,990 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.8%±2.9 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.4%±7.7 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.4%±2.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 75.5%±5.7 pts | 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 Mathews County?
Owners occupy 84.0% of Mathews County's occupied homes and renters 16.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $360,900 by its owner (±$26,309). The median renter pays $1,032 a month including utilities, and 38.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Mathews County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $360,900±$26,309 | $383,700 | +$82,394 |
| Median gross rent | $1,032±$324 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.0%±18.5 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,701±$107 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 84.0%±4.4 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,493±23 | 3,684,756 | −258 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2%±1.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±6.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 91.0%±2.9 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.9%±2.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7%±0.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.2%±4.5 pts | 7.0% | – |
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 Mathews County building?
Builders took permits for 32 new housing units across Mathews County in 2025 (32 single-family), 3.8 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Mathews County get to work?
71.6% of Mathews County's workers drive alone and 17.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.7 minutes.
| Measure | Mathews County | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.7%±3.8 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4%±3.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6%±5.3 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.1%±3.0 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.2%±1.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 2.6%±1.7 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.6%±4.5 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.7 min±3.4 | 27.3 min | −7.9 min |
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 are Mathews County's census tracts?
Mathews County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $69,688 (Tract 9513.01) to $80,000 (Tract 9514.02).
| Tract 9513.0151115951301 | 2,494±304 | $69,688 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9513.0251115951302 | 1,672±333 | $75,647 |
| Tract 9514.0151115951401 | 2,454±359 | $75,525 |
| Tract 9514.0251115951402 | 1,920±339 | $80,000 |
| Tract 990151115990100 | 0±13 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Mathews County compare with Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 118th of 133 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 91st of 133 |
| Residents per square mile | 69th of 133 |
| Median household income | 53rd of 133 |
| Median home value | 34th of 133 |
| Median gross rent | 73rd of 133 |
| Poverty rate | 101st of 133 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61st of 133 |
| Median age | 5th of 133 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Mathews County 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.