Population 6,726 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Galax City
Household size in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.93 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.39 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Galax City is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 1.93, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.8 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.8 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.9 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Galax City skews older than the country: its median age is 43.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 46.8, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.6% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in six households in Galax City (17.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only nine of Virginia's 133 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Galax City
Renters in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.7% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.9% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.7% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Galax City than nationally: 43.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among owners, 40.9% have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Galax City: 14.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged up 1.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | −3 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Galax City is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southwest has the oldest housing. Of Virginia's 133 counties, only nine have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $540 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $501 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $611 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $752 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$212 | +$600 | +$606 |
The median renter in Galax City pays $752 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $212 a month since 2006–10, up 39%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 30.5% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Galax City
Bachelor's degrees in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.1% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Galax City have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.1%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.6% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.1% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.0% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.4% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Galax City never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 10.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Galax City has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Virginia counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Galax City
| Period | Galax City | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.1%, unemployment in Galax City is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Virginia overall (4.3%). Unemployment is down 3.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Galax City compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galax City | 2.32 | 43.9 | 17.6% | 43.7% | 14.2% | 1966 | $752 | 19.1% | 84.4% | 5.1% |
| Carroll County | 2.32 | 49.0 | 8.3% | 22.9% | 22.9% | 1982 | $745 | 17.2% | 85.9% | 5.8% |
| Grayson County | 2.26 | 48.6 | 6.5% | 19.6% | 28.4% | 1975 | $736 | 15.5% | 85.3% | 3.6% |
| Patrick County | 2.23 | 51.4 | 6.5% | 23.1% | 21.4% | 1980 | $727 | 15.2% | 84.4% | 2.7% |
| Henry County | 2.37 | 47.7 | 10.8% | 24.8% | 16.2% | 1974 | $784 | 15.9% | 84.3% | 4.0% |
| Washington County | 2.41 | 46.6 | 8.3% | 24.2% | 13.3% | 1983 | $885 | 26.4% | 90.6% | 2.9% |
| Martinsville City | 2.42 | 37.4 | 15.6% | 44.6% | 17.8% | 1957 | $828 | 22.2% | 88.5% | 3.0% |
| Bristol City | 2.38 | 45.6 | 17.7% | 36.4% | 19.3% | 1965 | $867 | 24.0% | 89.6% | 7.0% |
| Sullivan County | 2.34 | 44.8 | 10.9% | 27.9% | 10.3% | 1976 | $911 | 27.3% | 90.2% | 5.2% |
| Pittsylvania County | 2.36 | 47.6 | 11.7% | 21.3% | 14.4% | 1981 | $876 | 16.0% | 85.7% | 4.5% |
| Danville City | 2.18 | 40.8 | 16.1% | 52.2% | 14.2% | 1962 | $861 | 19.3% | 86.8% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Northwest Arctic Borough, AK · Logan County, KS · Long County, GA · Louisa County, IA · Loup County, NE · Love County, OK · Loving County, TX · Macon County, MO · Madison County, AR · Madison County, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Galax City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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