Population 33,687 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pulaski County
Household size in Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.23 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.28 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Pulaski County is a place of small households, averaging 2.29 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east. Pulaski County has smaller households than the great majority of Virginia counties.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.5 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.3 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.3, Pulaski County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 44.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Pulaski County (9.4%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 Pulaski County
Renters in Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.9% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.0% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.6% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a quarter of households in Pulaski County rent their homes (26.6%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than four in ten owners (44.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.3% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.4% of the housing in Pulaski County, 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 is up 1.4 points from 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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Pulaski County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $553 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $631 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $707 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $882 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$329 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Pulaski County costs $882 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $329 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are 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 Pulaski County
Bachelor's degrees in Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.1% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Pulaski County: 21.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.0% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.5% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.1% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Pulaski County is a bit above the national rate: 91.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Virginia as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 12.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Pulaski County
| Period | Pulaski County | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Pulaski County has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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).
Pulaski County 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 2.29 | 46.3 | 9.4% | 26.6% | 14.4% | 1975 | $882 | 21.3% | 91.6% | 3.2% |
| Radford City | 2.44 | 31.1 | 5.2% | 57.7% | 15.9% | 1975 | $992 | 42.1% | 94.4% | 7.5% |
| Montgomery County | 2.44 | 35.0 | 6.8% | 44.7% | 14.0% | 1987 | $1,257 | 49.3% | 96.3% | 3.1% |
| Bland County | 2.27 | 47.0 | 6.0% | 13.5% | 23.0% | 1982 | $714 | 18.6% | 92.6% | 2.4% |
| Floyd County | 2.35 | 47.9 | 7.0% | 16.1% | 16.1% | 1986 | $859 | 24.4% | 91.1% | 3.9% |
| Wythe County | 2.29 | 45.1 | 8.8% | 23.0% | 11.1% | 1980 | $826 | 19.3% | 89.9% | 4.2% |
| Franklin County | 2.38 | 47.6 | 9.5% | 21.5% | 17.2% | 1987 | $938 | 25.0% | 91.2% | 2.3% |
| Tazewell County | 2.35 | 46.0 | 9.7% | 25.6% | 17.0% | 1973 | $776 | 17.3% | 87.5% | 4.3% |
| Russell County | 2.38 | 46.8 | 10.1% | 23.7% | 16.5% | 1980 | $738 | 13.2% | 82.3% | 3.6% |
| Dickenson County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 19.4% | 1983 | $732 | 10.7% | 85.3% | 2.3% |
| Wise County | 2.37 | 42.2 | 12.7% | 25.8% | 15.5% | 1979 | $802 | 15.4% | 80.2% | 8.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Upshur County, TX · Cooke County, TX · Coshocton County, OH · Covington County, AL · Cowley County, KS · Crawford County, OH · Uintah County, UT · Union County, GA · Union County, OR · Union County, PA
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 Pulaski County. 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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