Gun display at Dahlgren Naval Weapons Facility c1968, c. 1968
Dahlgren Center’s story
108 years in pictures
The archive holds 30 old photos and papers going back to 1968 and 4 maps from 1948 on.
- 1918Dahlgren Center is settled
Dahlgren CenterVA
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Office of Naval Research from Arlington, United States · CC BY 2.0
Population
765
Census survey, 2020–24
Household income
$96K
median
Median age
25.5
years
Jobs based here
526
A job hub
Is Dahlgren Center a good place to live?
Dahlgren Center’s mean commuting time is 15 minutes, against 27 minutes in Virginia’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Among 254 Virginia towns, just 3 have a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Dahlgren Center. Dahlgren Center’s trail density is 1.5 miles per square mile, where Virginia’s towns sit at 0.7 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Dahlgren Center has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Dahlgren Center stand out
Where Dahlgren Center beats most towns.
Small town
765 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
DahlgrenDahlgren Center
Getting set up
Moving to Dahlgren Center: who provides what
Dahlgren Center is unincorporated, so King George County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDominion Energy15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNaval Support Facility, Dahlgren water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesKing George CountyKing George County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Virginia you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 11 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereKing George General RegistrarKing George County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2015
ZIP code2244822448 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dahlgren Center.
Who lives here
More adults under 35 in Dahlgren Center than across Virginia
The share of adults 25 and older in Dahlgren Center who hold a bachelor’s degree or more: 51%. Its age of the median resident stands at 25.5 years.
25.5median age · VA 39
| Dahlgren Center | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.5 years | 38.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 51% | 44% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 25% | 23% | 22% |
Dahlgren CenterVirginiaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
25%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma1%
High school13%
Some college25%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s35%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
44% women, 56% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±9.8 points. Across Virginia, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Dahlgren Center | VA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 24.7% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 21.7% | 13.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.8% | 13.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.1% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 6.8% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 0.3% | 9.9% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 0% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 0.8% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 12.7% | 23.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.1% | 17.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.1% | 7.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 35.4% | 23.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16% | 18.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 800, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commute
A job hub: Dahlgren Center has 2.3 jobs for every working resident and draws in 526 commuters
Jobs based in Dahlgren Center fell to 526 in 2023, 114 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Washington (8%), Dahlgren (6%) and King George (6%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 37 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Dahlgren Center0%
Washington8%
Dahlgren6%
King George6%
Tysons4%
37 mi
median commute distance
526
jobs based in Dahlgren Center
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Expect four seasons and hot summers in Dahlgren Center
The July high in Dahlgren Center is 89°F.
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–48°
Spring46–67°
Summer68–87°
Fall50–69°
Nov 8
typical first frost
Mar 28
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Dahlgren Center’s adults binge drink than in the typical Virginia or U.S. town
Among 254 Virginia towns, just 4 have a lower share of adults who have diabetes than Dahlgren Center. For adults locally, the share who get no exercise outside work is 19%. CDC measures, 32 in all: Dahlgren Center beats Virginia on 11 and trails on 6.
| Dahlgren Center | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 5.6% | 11% | 12% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 14% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 33% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 70% | 79% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Virginia
11 better15 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Dahlgren Center | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 2.9% | 7.7% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 2.4% | 6.1% |
| More binge drinkers | 21.4% | 14.5% |
University of MD Charles Regional Medical Center
13.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Dahlgren Center, with inland flooding at the top
FEMA expects less storm and flood damage in Dahlgren Center than in 59% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Dahlgren Center break down as 43% from inland flooding and 34% from hurricanes.
41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesStrong wind
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 2,736 acres
6.3 mi
of trails · 1.5 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 284 attractions →White House and 188 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Dahlgren Center. Close and well known come first.
Big draw39 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw38 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw38 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw38 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw38 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
11 mi National MonumentGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument72K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · George Washington Birthplace National Monument: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dahlgren Center
15pages on Dahlgren Center
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Dahlgren Center; the nearest are
College of Southern MarylandCommunity college · Public · La Plata, MD15.4 mi$4,200 in-state tuitionUniversity of Mary WashingtonUniversity or college · Public · Fredericksburg24.4 mi$14,640 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Dahlgren Center residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Virginia.
A job hub
Every workday, about 526 people come to Dahlgren Center for work
Where Dahlgren Center’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
526jobs based in Dahlgren Center
0%of working residents work in town
37 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Dahlgren Center
Division of the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center
The United States Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), named for Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren, is located in King George County, Virginia, near the largest fleet concentration area in the Navy. NSWCDD is part of the Naval Surface Warfare Centers under the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). NSWCDD was established on 16 October 1918 as Lower Station, Dahlgren Naval Proving Ground, a remote extension of Maryland's Indian Head Proving Ground. The site was chosen so that naval guns and other high-powered munitions could be tested by firing shells into the Potomac River. The NSWCDD employs about 4,700 scientists, engineers and support personnel at the Dahlgren organization a…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1918
- Elevation
- 16 ft
Questions about Dahlgren Center
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dahlgren Center, VA a good place to live?
Dahlgren Center has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.