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CITY

Clifton Forge

Virginia · 3,372 residents (2025 est.) · 3.021 sq mi
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The short version

Clifton Forge has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,000. Population has fallen 20% since 2000, a loss of 842 residents. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $109,500. With a median age of 45.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 57% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,447
−20%since 2000
from 4,289 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,141 / sq mi
−20%since 2000
from 1,420 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.2
+5%since 2000
from 42.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,372 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K4K4K4K5K1990201020202024Clifton Forge
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,000
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,090 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,572
+75%since 2000
from $15,182 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
27.8%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.476
+1%since 2010
from 0.470 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance13.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical11.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Information7.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$109,500
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$592
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 62.6% in 2000
36.5% rent
Vacancy rate
23.5%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.3%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+36%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
23
RELATED:See current rent listings in Clifton Forge on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.6%(3,543)
Black14.6%(627)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(38)
Asian0%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score33.7%(1,445)
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.4%(2,773)
Black15.3%(528)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(72)
Asian0.1%(3)
Other2.1%(71)
Diversity Score41.1%(1,415)
Diversity Score
41
+22%since 2000
from 34 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.0%
+11.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.2%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 75.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.0%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.8 min
+25%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
91.4%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.8%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
16.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.0%
−8.5 ptssince 2011
from 10.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
39.8%
−9.9 ptssince 2011
from 49.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.7%
−10.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.1%
−19.5 ptssince 2009
from 62.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
57.4%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.1% in 2009
Female
42.6%
−12.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−36.4 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
30.2%
+7.6 ptssince 2012
from 22.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.0%
−79.2 ptssince 2013
from 88.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.5%
+13.2 ptssince 2017
from 65.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.4%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 95.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Clifton Forge, Virginia?

Clifton Forge, Virginia has about 3,447 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clifton Forge, Virginia?

The typical household in Clifton Forge, Virginia earns about $40,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clifton Forge, Virginia expensive?

In Clifton Forge, Virginia, the median home is worth about $109,500, and the typical rent is about $592 a month.

How educated are people in Clifton Forge, Virginia?

About 21.0% of adults age 25 and over in Clifton Forge, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clifton Forge, Virginia?

About 15.1% of people in Clifton Forge, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clifton Forge, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Clifton Forge, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,232 residents, a change of about -26 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Clifton Forge, Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy