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Federal impact reports and studies on Northern Virginia, DC Metro Area, and Virginia. Federal Monitoring Reports/Resources NVRC Presentations School Planners Forum - June 4, 2025 Federal Impact on School Enrollment Presentation - NVRC's Senior Regional Demographer, Jill Kaneff, presented at the annual regional school planners forum hosted by Loudoun County Public Schools. The forum brought together school planners from across the D.C. region and beyond. Guidance on key demographic and economic indicators to monitor was provided to assist schools plan for the federal impacts on enrollment during these uncertain times caused by the federal layoffs and cutbacks. Virginia House Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, April 8, 2025 NVRC's Senior Regional Demographer, Jill Kaneff, and the NVRC Chair presented at the committee meeting. The Northern Virginia Federal Workforce presentation is an overview of Northern Virginia federal workforce and data resources available for policy makers and the general public. Economy Virginia Economic Impacts The University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service produces a quarterly economic forecast for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The center also publishes special studies and presentations that focus on the federal impacts. View the Weldon Cooper Center's research reports. Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Economic Impacts The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) partners with the Brookings Metro program of the Brookings Institute to produce the DMV Monitor, an interactive dashboard designed to track a wide range of economic indicators, including job growth, real estate, venture capital, and tourism, and provide in-depth analysis of the region’s economic, social, and fiscal health. View the DMV Monitor . Housing Market Bright MLS Bright MLS tracks and reports on the housing market conditions of Northern Virginia's and the Greater D.C. metropolitan area. Bright MLS News and Insights offers insightful research and surveys, covering topics such as the effects of DOGE and federal spending cuts. Featured informative resources also include the following. Monthly Market Report The monthly market reports include a Washington D.C. metro area market report and individual Northern Virginia jurisdiction market reports . These reports present market trends and comparative graphs showing current and historical data. Special Presentation in Coordination with NVRC Lisa Sturtevant, PhD, Chief Economist with Bright MLS, presented at the Loudoun County Public Schools Planners and GIS Forum on June 4, 2025: D.C. Metropolitan Area Housing Market Trends and Outlook . This presentation includes insightful comparative market trends not found in the monthly market reports. The forum brought together school planners from across the D.C. region and beyond. This presentation was part of a two set series on the federal impacts, with the first presentation being NVRC's presentation on Federal Impact on School Enrollment . Northern Virginia Association of Realtors The Northern Virginia Association of Realtor tracks and reports on the housing market conditions of the inner jurisdictions of Northern Virginia with data provided by George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis and Bright MLS. On an annual basis, a report on housing market forecasts is produced in conjunction with the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University (GMU-CRA). DMV Monitor The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) partners with the Brookings Metro program of the Brookings Institute to produce the DMV Monitor, an interactive dashboard designed to track a wide range of economic indicators, including job growth, real estate, venture capital, and tourism, and provide in-depth analysis of the region’s economic, social, and fiscal health. View the DMV Monitor .

Northern Virginia town economically disadvantaged populations, poverty, free and reduced price school meal (FARM) student and more demographics, data and graphs. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Economically Disadvantaged Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Economically Disadvantaged of Northern Virginia While Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest median incomes in the United States, we must recognize that there are segments of the community in need of assistance that live in one of the most prosperous regions in the country. Poverty The Northern Virginia region has some of the highest household incomes in the United States. However, there are persons in poverty in the region, and their needs must be recognized and addressed. The poverty rates of all counties and cities in Northern Virginia are shown in the following graphs. The poverty rate is the ratio of the number of persons in poverty divided by the number of persons for whom poverty status was determined. Not everyone had their poverty status determined so this figure will be less than the total population. About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Poverty data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). It is important to note that any data sourced from the ACS is based on a small sample of the population of a place. Areas with smaller populations, such as the cities of Northern Virginia, may have a larger margin of error in the data due to the survey sample size being small. This is less of an issue the larger the population. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. If there is a large increase or decrease in the estimate from one time period to the next, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and is not considered statistically significant. In addition to the margin of error, the accuracy of the American Community Survey data for an area can be gaged by evaluating the trend. If the data has a clear trend then the data from one period to the next can be deemed reliable Poverty Rate - Current Five-Year Estimates Northern Virginia's poverty rate is 6.0%, compared to 9.9% for Virginia and 12.5% for the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. All jurisdictions in the United States are included in the five-year American Community Survey estimates. Out of all 3,144 jurisdictions in the USA, two of the fifteen lowest poverty rates are located in the Northern Virginia localities of Falls Church (8th) and Loudoun County (12th). Loudoun County and Falls Church are also the 1stt and 11th ranked for median household income, respectively. However, there are persons in poverty in Loudoun, Falls Church, and the rest of the region, and their needs must be recognized and addressed. Poverty Rate - Current One-Year Estimates Those jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more are included in the one-year American Community Survey estimates. The poverty rates for the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are shown in this graph. The Northern Virginia regional poverty rate was 6.1% in 2024, which is nearly half the poverty rate of the nation. Out of the 850 jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more in the USA, one of the twenty lowest poverty rates is located in the Northern Virginia locality of Loudoun County (20th). Loudoun County is also the number one ranked for median household income. However, there are persons in poverty in Loudoun and the rest of the region and their needs must be recognized. Poverty Rate - Historic Compared to Current Five-Year Estimates Northern Virginia's poverty rate has experienced a similar pattern to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States over time. From 1999 to the 2010-2014 period there was an increase in the percent of persons in poverty. The rate in poverty has gradually lessened since the 2010-2014 period, reaching 6.0% in the 2020-2024 period. Poverty Rate - Historic Compared to Current One-Year Estimates The poverty rate patterns over time, for the regions large jurisdictions (population of 65,000 or more), are shown in the following graph. The Northern Virginia regional poverty rate, for the one-year estimates, represents the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. The persons in poverty data has large year-to-year fluctuations due to the small sample size of the survey, together with the small amount of persons in poverty. The margins of error (displayed in the graph pop-ups), are large for the poverty one-years estimates, making any poverty trends undiscernible. However, the low to high ranges of poverty over time for each jurisdiction and the region, and comparisons between jurisdictions and the region can be gleaned. For instance, Northern Virginia's poverty rate has ranged from approximately 6% to 7% between 2010 and 2024, and Loudoun County’s poverty rate has been consistently lower than the other large jurisdictions. Given the unreliability of single-year poverty estimates, utilization of five-year estimates are strongly recommended for all Northern Virginia jurisdictions and the region when analyzing trends, planning, and developing policies. The American Community Survey 5-year estimates have a significantly larger sample size.

Northern Virginia economic monitoring of the 2025-2029 presidential administration's federal cutbacks. Analysis conducted by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Federal Monitoring Federal Monitoring of Northern Virginia Northern Virginia has approximately 12 percent of its residents employed in the federal government. The federal government budgetary cutback and job layoffs that the new presidential administration began implementing in January 2025 will have deep economic impacts on the region. Detailed information for understanding and monitoring the federal impacts is available on the following topics . Fact Sheet Reports/Resources Maps Safety Net Participants Unemployment Claims Local Area Economic Statistics

Federal impact reports and studies on Northern Virginia, DC Metro Area, and Virginia. Federal Monitoring Reports/Resources NVRC Presentations School Planners Forum - June 4, 2025 Federal Impact on School Enrollment Presentation - NVRC's Senior Regional Demographer, Jill Kaneff, presented at the annual regional school planners forum hosted by Loudoun County Public Schools. The forum brought together school planners from across the D.C. region and beyond. Guidance on key demographic and economic indicators to monitor was provided to assist schools plan for the federal impacts on enrollment during these uncertain times caused by the federal layoffs and cutbacks. Virginia House Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions, April 8, 2025 NVRC's Senior Regional Demographer, Jill Kaneff, and the NVRC Chair presented at the committee meeting. The Northern Virginia Federal Workforce presentation is an overview of Northern Virginia federal workforce and data resources available for policy makers and the general public. Economy Northern Virginia Economic Impacts Study - Published June 2025 Report commissioned by the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance (NOVA EDA). Northern Virginia Regional Commission partnered with the NOVA EDA on this report and was an active member in the report's research sub-committee. This report analyzes the significant economic and workforce impact of federal government layoffs in Northern Virginia (NOVA). The study models three potential workforce reduction scenarios: low impact (5 percent reduction), medium impact (10 percent reduction), and high impact (20 percent reduction). Report : Economic and Fiscal Effects of Federal Employee and Contractor Layoffs In Northern Virginia, June 2025 Virginia Economic Impacts The University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service produces a quarterly economic forecast for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The center also publishes special studies and presentations that focus on the federal impacts. View the Weldon Cooper Center's research reports. Housing Market Presentations D.C. Metropolitan Area Housing Market Trends and Outlook - Lisa Sturtevant, PhD, Chief Economist with Bright MLS, presented at the Loudoun County Public Schools Planners and GIS Forum on June 4, 2025. The forum brought together school planners from across the D.C. region and beyond. This presentation was part of a two set series on the federal impacts, with the first presentation being NVRC's presentation on Federal Impact on School Enrollment . Northern Virginia Association of Realtors The Northern Virginia Association of Realtor tracks and reports on the housing market conditions of the inner jurisdictions of Northern Virginia with data provided by George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis and Bright MLS. Features include monthly housing update reports and a new weekly regional tracker to monitor the impact of federal workforce changes. On an annual basis, a report on housing market forecasts is produced in conjunction with the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University (GMU-CRA).

Northern Virginia educational attainment, public school student enrollment, and more demographics, data and graphs by region and county. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Student Enrollment Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Public School Student Enrollment of Northern Virginia Overview Northern Virginia experienced sustained public school enrollment growth from 2004 through 2019, increasing from 315,898 students to a peak of 423,670. Since 2019, enrollment has declined in four of the past six years, including the most recent school year. Student enrollment in 2025 totaled 405,457. Note, the annual enrollment figures reflect September 30th of each year. Key Highlights Declining Student to Total Population Share: Since 2019, both total enrollment and the student share of the population have fallen. The student share declined from 16.7% in 2019 to a low of 15.8% in 2024. The 2025 share is currently unavailable, but will be available in mid-2026 when population data for 2025 is released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Multiple Contributing Factors: Recent declines in public school enrollment reflect a combination of factors, including declining births and birth rates, an aging population, accelerated out-migration of families due to housing costs, and elevation participation in home-schooling and private education options post-COVID 19 pandemic. Generational Transition: Public school enrollment trends closely track regional birth patterns, typically with a five-year lag. Births and birth rates in Northern Virginia have declined steadily since 2007, resulting in progressively smaller elementary school enrollment since 2013. Larger pre-2013 cohorts that supported enrollment growth are graduating and being replaced by smaller student populations, making continued enrollment decline increasingly likely. Future Growth and Planning Northern Virginia is undergoing a generational transition in its student population. The larger student populations that entered school prior to 2013 and sustained growth through the 2010s are now graduating from the school system, while smaller student populations advance through each grade. Continued enrollment declines are increasingly likely over the next five to ten years. In the longer term, Northern Virginia is projected to have substantial population growth. The region's population exceeded 2.60 million in 2024 and is forecast to surpass 3 million by 2040, according to the NVRC Demographic and Economic Fact Sheet . However, aging of the population and declining birth rates are reducing the number of school-age children entering the public school system. In addition, higher housing costs and other economic pressures are contributing to slow in-migration of families and prompting families to move out of the region. These factors are expected to result in overall stagnation or declines in student enrollment for the region, but specific areas of the region with large amounts of residential development will have increased enrollment. In summary, a multitude of variables alter student enrollment trends, including new development, transfers to and from private schools, in- and out-migration rates, and size and composition of families in existing housing stock. With growth and demographic shifts comes challenges in maintaining the high quality of education and school facilities in the region. Ensuring the continued excellence of education necessitates strategic planning and the acquisition of land or facilities for future school development, which has become increasingly complex in the region due to the limited supply of available land.

Northern Virginia income, economically disadvantage populations, workforce, and more demographics, data and graphs by region and county. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Household Income Distribution Overall Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Household Income Distribution of Northern Virginia Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest incomes in the United States, including the county with the highest median household income in the nation. High incomes coincide with the large, thriving business community of the Northern Virginia region. While high incomes exist, we must recognize that there are segments of the community that are lower income and in need of assistance that live in this prosperous region of the country. About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Median household income data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). It is important to note that any data sourced from the ACS is based on a small sample of the population of a place. Areas with smaller populations, such as the cities of Northern Virginia, may have a larger margin of error in the data due to the survey sample size being small. This is less of an issue the larger the population. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. If there is a large increase or decrease in the estimate from one time period to the next, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and is not considered statistically significant. In addition to the margin of error, the accuracy of the American Community Survey data for an area can be gaged by evaluating the trend. If the data has a clear trend then the data from one period to the next can be deemed reliable. Five-Year Estimates - Current All jurisdictions in the United States are included in the five-year American Community Survey estimates. The share of households in each income cohort for all jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are shown in this graph. While Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest median incomes in the United States, it must be recognized that there are segments of the community in need of assistance that live in one of the most prosperous regions in the country. It also must be recognized that the region's high cost of housing can be burdensome for both the low and moderate income households (earning up to $150,000), particularly first time home buyers , so there is a significant need for more affordable housing. For further information on the affordable housing needs for the middle-income, see the NVRC report Shifting Migration Patterns of Northern Virginia: Affordable Housing Needs published January 2025. One-Year Estimates - Current Those jurisdictions with a population of 65,000 or more are included in the one-year American Community Survey estimates, of which there are five Northern Virginia jurisdictions included. The share of households in each income cohort for the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are shown in this graph. The Northern Virginia regional household income distribution, for the one-year estimates, is representative of the five largest jurisdictions in Northern Virginia only. While Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest median incomes in the United States, it must be recognized that there are segments of the community in need of assistance that live in one of the most prosperous regions in the country. It also must be recognized that the region's high cost of housing can be burdensome for both the low and moderate income households (earning up to $150,000), particularly first time home buyers, so there is a significant need for more affordable housing. For further information on the affordable housing needs for the middle-income, see the NVRC report Shifting Migration Patterns of Northern Virginia: Affordable Housing Needs published January 2025.

Northern Virginia unemployment claims data and charts for monitoring the federal cutback impacts. Unemployment Claims Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Unemployment Claims Unemployment initial and continued claims serve as an indicator of economic health. Initial unemployment claims measure the number of people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continued unemployment claims measure the number of people who already filed an initial claim in a prior week and have subsequently filed a continued claim for unemployment benefits because they continue to be unemployed. The weekly data provides policymakers and economists with the timeliest data about labor market conditions, often foreshadowing broader economic conditions that are reported on a monthly basis in state and federal job reports and databases. About the Data 1. Claims are filed in the jurisdiction where the employee worked. During a filing, each state and the District of Columbia are required to collect place of residence. This collected data is reported and exchanged between the U.S. Department of Labor and the states and the District of Columbia. The following data represents place of residence of the worker filing a claim . It does not represent place of work where the claim was initially filed. 2. Federally filed claims have reporting delays of several weeks or months because a claim is not classified as a federal (UCFE) claim until federal wages are confirmed. Also, individuals who are on administrative leave with pay or voluntarily quit do not qualify for unemployment benefits. Therefore, a large number of federal employees laid off in the first half of 2025 have yet to qualify or be officially confirmed for unemployment claims benefits. ***Friday Updates*** Claims data representing place of residence is submitted by Virginia Employment Commission to the U.S. Department of Labor. This dashboard is updated on Fridays.

Northern Virginia town population growth, minority-majority transition, foreign born population transformation, and more demographics, data and graphs. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Foreign Born and Immigrants of Towns Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Foreign Born and Immigrant Population of Towns Overview The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is one of the most diverse in the country when taking into consideration the minority and foreign born (immigrant) population make-up. Northern Virginia contains a sizable amount of the metropolitan area's diverse population. The foreign born or immigrant population is transforming the region and many of it's towns. Note, the terms foreign born and immigrant are used interchangeably throughout the NOVA Region Dashboard. It is immigration that has been driving many of the major demographic trends in the region, including: School enrollment changes Sizable increases in the number of Hispanics and Asians Population and labor force growth About the Data and Proper Data Interpretation Foreign born population data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census and the American Community Survey. All of the incorporated towns in Northern Virginia have a population of less than 65,000 persons. One-year ACS estimates do not exist for incorporated places with a population of less than 65,000. All incorporated towns and places in the United States are included in the five-year ACS estimates. It is important to note that any data sourced from the ACS is based on a small sample of the population of a place. The ACS estimates for places with smaller populations such as Clifton, Dumfries, Hamilton, Haymarket, Hillsboro, Lovettsville, Middleburg, and Quantico can be unreliable if the margin of error is large. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. If there is a large increase or decrease in the estimate from one time period to the next, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and is not considered statistically significant. In addition to the margin of error, the accuracy of the American Community Survey data for an area can be gaged by evaluating the trend. If the data has a clear trend then the data from one period to the next can be deemed reliable. Foreign Born Population - Current Foreign Born Population Share - Current The region's highest ranked county/city is Manassas Park City, ranking 8th in the nation at 36.8%. Herndon boasts one of the largest foreign-born populations in the country, at 42.2%. Statistically, Herndon is not significantly different from Manassas Park due to the data's margins of error. Towns that are estimated to have lower foreign born population shares than the Commonwealth of Virginia are all located within rural Loudoun County (Lovettsville, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill), except for Clifton which is located in rural Fairfax County. Note, the town of Hillsboro's 2020-2024 estimate of 29.1% foreign born is considered highly unreliable. This is evidenced by the large rise compared to previous five-year periods, as shown in the Historic Compared to Current chart in the next section. It is additionally reinforced by the wide margin of error of +/-37.6%, which stems from the town's small survey sample size. Foreign Born Population - Historic Compared to Current Foreign Born Population Share - Historic Compared to Current Immigration has been driving many of the major demographic trends in the region. The foreign born population is transforming the region. Northern Virginia's population was 21.4% foreign born in 2000 and has risen to 28.2% currently. The largest transformations since 2000 have occurred in the towns of Dumfries, Haymarket, Leesburg, Lovettsville, and Occoquan. All of these incorporated towns are located in the outer-core, which is where the majority of the region's growth has occurred. Note, the American Community Survey is a survey with a small sample size. Due to the small size of many Northern Virginia towns and small sample size of the survey, the median household income of towns should be used with caution and the margin of error of the median household income should be taken into consideration. If there is a large increase or decrease in the estimate from one time period to the next, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and the data should be used with caution. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. In addition to the margin of error, the accuracy of the American Community Survey data for an area can be gaged by evaluating the trend. If the data does not have a clear trend, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and the data should be used with caution.

Northern Virginia town income, economically disadvantage populations, and more demographics, data and graphs. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Median Household Income of Towns Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Median Household Income of Towns Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest median incomes in the United States, including the county with the highest in the nation. High median household incomes coincide with the large, thriving business community of the Northern Virginia region. While the median household income is high, it must be recognized that there are segments of the community in need of assistance that live in this prosperous region of the country and that high housing costs offset the high income when it comes to standards of living and well-being. Median Household Income - Current The median household income of the counties, cities, and incorporated towns in Northern Virginia is shown in this graph. Loudoun County is the number one ranked county (county equivalent) for median household income in the nation. The towns of Clifton and Vienna have estimated median household incomes even greater than Loudoun County. All Northern Virginia counties, cities, and towns, have a median household income higher than Virginia, except for the Towns of Dumfries and Quantico. Quantico is the only locality in Northern Virginia with a median household income lower than the nation. Median Household Income - Historic Compared to Current Note, the American Community Survey is a survey with a small sample size. Due to the small population of many towns, the median household income of towns for should be used with caution and the margin of error of the median household income should be taken into consideration. If there is a large increase or decrease in the estimate from one time period to the next, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and the data should be used with caution. The margin of error is shown in the popup that is displayed when hovering over a bar in the bar charts. In addition to the margin of error, the accuracy of the American Community Survey data for an area can be gaged by evaluating the trend. If the data does not have a clear trend, and the margin of error is large and overlaps other periods, then the large change between time periods is likely due to statistical sampling error and the data should be used with caution.

Accessibility Statement Overview Date of last revision: 03/04/21 The Northern Virginia Regional Commission strives to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities and has invested resources to help provide an easy-to-use experience for all visitors to our website, novaregiondashboard.com, regardless of the type of device used and whether a visitor uses assistive technology like a screen reader, font magnification, translation or voice recognition software. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission uses the UserWay Website Accessibility Widget powered by a dedicated accessibility server to improve its compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1). The Northern Virginia Regional Commission accessibility menu can be enabled by clicking the accessibility menu icon that appears on the corner of the page. After triggering the accessibility menu, please wait a moment for the accessibility menu to load. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission is committed to constantly improving the accessibility of its site. Despite efforts to make all pages and content on NOVA Region Dashboard fully accessible, some content may not have yet been adapted to the strictest accessibility standards as we identify appropriate technological solutions. If you are having trouble accessing content on NOVA Region Dashboard or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us . Browser Accessibility Information Many popular browsers contain built-in accessibility tools. Internet Explorer Accessibility Information Firefox Accessibility Information Chrome Accessibility Information Additional Plug-ins Adobe Reader is required to view and print PDF documents that appear on this website. To download this program for free, visit the Adobe website . To read PDF documents with a screen reader, please visit the Adobe Reader Accessibility website which provides useful tools and resources.

Northern Virginia town population growth, minority-majority transition, foreign born population transformation, and more demographics, data and graphs. Analyzed by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). Race and Ethnicity of Towns Reports, maps, and charts are best viewed on a desktop or tablet. Race and Ethnicity of Towns Overview A big story of the region is its diversification and majority-minority transition. There will soon be a day when the majority of people will belong to a minority group (any group other than non-Hispanic White alone). Much of this is attributed to the sizable increases in the number of Hispanics, Asians, and multiracial persons in the region. The following charts show the region's population by race and ethnicity, along with analyses of diversity for Northern Virginia and its incorporated towns. Upcoming Changes to Categorization of Race/Ethnicity Race/ethnicity data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau is the primary source of race and ethnicity demographics. The U.S. Census Bureau currently collects race and ethnicity data based on the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards from 1997. New race/ethnicity standards were adopted by the Office of Management and Budget on March 28, 2024, the first such adoption since 1997. Changes are coming to how race and ethnicity information will be collected and reported in the United States. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Census Bureau, must implement the new standards into data collections as soon as possible, but no later than March 28, 2029. The U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), a survey conducted annually, will be one of the first U.S. Census Bureau products to implement the new standards. As of July 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau was proposing to begin implementation of data collection in 2026 or 2027 for the ACS products. The 2030 Decennial Census will also reflect the new standards. The new race categories will offer individuals more precise ways to self-identify, especially for people who self-identify as multiracial or multiethnic. This will result in a more accurate representation of the U.S. population's race and ethnic characteristics. Changes will include a single combined question instead of separate race and ethnicity questions. Also, a new "Middle Eastern or North African" category will be added. These changes aim to better reflect the diversity of the American population. These changes will create challenges and implications for our understanding of the population and trends because the data will not be comparable to prior data. These modifications will alter the population size of subgroups. Specifically, the Census Bureau’s 2015 National Content Test results suggest anticipating increases in those identifying as Middle Eastern or North African, Hispanic or Latino, and Black or African American. Conversely, the number of individuals categorized as “white” or "some other race" is projected to decline. The combined race and ethnicity question is also expected to improve response rates for the race component on the decennial census and ACS forms. More information can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau's website . Decennial Census Data The Decennial Census is based on a survey of the entire population. It is conducted once a decade. The 2020 Decennial Census population was released on August 12, 2021. The Decennial Census regional, county, and city population data is shown in the interactive charts that follow. The 2020 Census had improvements to the design of the two separate questions for race and ethnicity, data processing, and coding, which enabled a more thorough and accurate depiction of how people prefer to self-identify. These changes along with actual demographic changes in the population result in the changes seen from 2010 to 2020 in the following data. For more details on the 2020 Census questionnaire changes and its impacts please view the U.S. Census Bureau's technical information . The following charts show the region's population by race and ethnicity, along with analyses of diversity for Northern Virginia and its incorporated towns. People of Hispanic/Latino origin are an ethnic group and may be of any race. To display Hispanic/Latino together with racial groups, it is common to cross-tabulate race and ethnicity to display Hispanic/Latino as a single category and the non-Hispanic race groups as categories that sum to the total population. This means of displaying race and ethnic data has become quite common and for available data, it is the closest categorization c ompared to the new race/ethnicity standards that were adopted by the Office of Management and Budget on March 28, 2024 (for more information see prior section ). With this classification, Hispanic/Latino is treated identically to major race groups and not independently of race. Also, Census Bureau research has shown that this classification is much less impacted by the 2020 Census questionnaire improvements. NVRC has migrated its demographic analysis to the cross-tabulated categories. The following charts, as well as the calculation of diversity, use the cross-tabulated categories.

Language spoken and Limited English Proficiency LEP)information compiled by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission's as part of the One Region immigration study, Coronavirus (COVID-19) immigration study, and data dashboard to assess the economic impact of immigrants in Northern Virginia. Language Spoken Key Facts Language Spoken Understanding the population with language barriers is particularly critical for the quick and accurate dissemination of health, safety, and public information. 2014 to 2018 Five-Year Estimates Key Facts: There are an estimated 584,000 people in Northern Virginia who live in a household where English is not spoken at home as the primary language. Of those, 31.2 percent of the population age five and over speak Spanish at home. Of those, the second most spoken language is Korean at 5.5 percent. There are an estimated 134,200 people in Northern Virginia who report speaking English less than well, making up 5.4 percent of the region's total population.