City · Virginia
Galax, Virginia
Galax, city, in Galax city, Virginia. Galax had 6,670 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,720 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,726 (controlled total). GEOID 5130208.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,670
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,720 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,726
Median household income
$38,675
±$8,836 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$141,300
±$23,066 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$743
±$65 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Galax and what county is it in?
Galax is a city in Galax city, Virginia. It covers 8.2 square miles of land, 816 residents per square mile in 2020.
Galax covers the same area as Galax city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Galax's; the county page lists its census tracts.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Galax, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,670 people lived in Galax on July 1, 2025, down 0.8% since 2020, while Virginia grew 2.9%. The 2020 Census counted 6,720 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,726.
| Measure | Galax | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,726 | 8,705,170 | +209 |
| Households | 2,763 ±234 | 3,365,732 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.34 ±0.20 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,214 ±207 | 3,684,756 | no clear change |
Galax's population since 2000
From 6,837 in 2000 to 6,670 in 2025: down 2.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Galax as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Galax?
The median resident of Galax is 42.9 years old; 24.8% are under 18 and 21.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 14.1%. 5.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Galax | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 ±5.5 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.8% ±3.5 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.1% ±3.3 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 44.3% ±3.5 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.1% ±3.2 pts | 11.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.8% ±4.2 pts | 58.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±2.1 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 6.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3% ±2.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.5% ±1.9 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.0% ±3.5 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.4% ±3.0 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 15.5% ±3.3 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.8% ±2.8 pts | 6.9% | −9.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.4% ±3.5 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.1% ±4.1 pts | 42.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.3% ±3.0 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.9% ±5.2 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2% ±2.2 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Galax earn?
Half of Galax's 2,763 households earn less than $38,675 a year (±$8,836), against $38,675 in Galax city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $41,321 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 31.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Galax | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $38,675 ±$8,836 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $71,061 ±$15,345 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,667 ±$6,082 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 31.1% ±7.7 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 42.8% ±14.3 pts | 12.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.1% ±5.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.2% ±3.9 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.2% ±4.0 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Galax?
Owners occupy 56.3% of Galax's occupied homes and renters 43.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $141,300 by its owner (±$23,066). The median renter pays $743 a month including utilities, and 39.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Galax | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $141,300 ±$23,066 | $383,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $743 ±$65 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.3% ±12.5 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,150 ±$59 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.3% ±7.4 pts | 67.3% | −11.8 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.7% ±7.4 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 3,214 ±207 | 3,684,756 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.9% ±3.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5% ±2.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.9% ±6.0 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% ±3.6 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±1.4 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.6% ±1.1 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.6% ±4.1 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.4% ±4.0 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Galax building?
Builders took permits for 6 new housing units in Galax in 2025 (6 in single-family houses), 0.9 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Galax work and get to work?
83.4% of Galax's workers drive alone and 5.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes.
| Measure | Galax | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.0% ±5.9 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±4.1 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 83.4% ±5.7 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.6% ±4.0 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.8% ±3.5 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.6 min ±4.3 | 27.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Galax?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Galax (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $35,893 (Tract 701.02) to $41,556 (Tract 701.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 701.01Galax city | 3,755 | $41,556 |
| Tract 701.02Galax city | 2,971 | $35,893 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Galax) · Census block assignment files
How does Galax compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Galax is the 4,175th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 55th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Galax ranks 357th of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 55th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 86th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 253rd | 374 |
| Median household income | 357th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 308th | 374 |
| Median home value | 329th | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 314th | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 6th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 301st | 359 |
| Median age | 110th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 290th | 368 |
| Work from home | 279th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 269th | 372 |
Galax's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Galax with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Galax?
12 of the 57 figures for Galax on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Galax are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Galax.