City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Gate City, VA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Gate City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,939
Residents
$37,188
Median income
$158,400
Median home
$1,044
Median rent (state)

Gate City - the verdict

Nationally, Gate City sits in the 6th percentile for household income and the 34th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

6th
percentile, household income
30th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
34th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Gate City, VA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,939 residents in Gate City, a small town within Virginia. Gate City households earn a median of $37,188 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.8%. Gate City's housing stock carries a median value of $158,400, and the median resident age is 42.0 years. About 32.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 49.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1935.5 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,044 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Gate City workers runs 20.6 minutes, with 93.4% driving alone and 6.6% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 42.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

1,939 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$37,188 /yr

Poverty 10.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia average

How does Gate City compare to other US cities?

Gate City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 6% higher than other cities
Home value 30% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities
Safety 34% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Virginia alone, Gate City ranks #65 of 117 Virginia cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Gate City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Virginia-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Gate City toward the bottom of Virginia's cities

Among the 567 Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Gate City ranks #430 - the 24th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Gate City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#518 of 558
7th percentile in Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#435 of 619
28th percentile in Virginia
Median Home Value
#430 of 567
24th percentile in Virginia
Poverty Rate
#173 of 616
71st percentile in Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#259 of 618
58th percentile in Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

6thIncome percentile
34thSafety percentile

6th percentile nationally for median household income · 34th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Gate City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Gate City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
Gate City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Gate City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$158,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 70% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Gate City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Gate City, VA Gate City, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gate City, VA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Gate City, VA median $37,188/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Gate City, VA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Gate City, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,939
Median Income
$37,188
Median Home Value
$158,400
Median Age
42.0
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Labor force participation
49.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1935.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
198.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1737.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,980 residents2,000 residents2,020 residents2,040 residents2,060 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,044 residents 2,000 residents ▼ -2.2%
Gate City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.6 minutes
Drive Alone
93.4%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
6.6%

Based on 821 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Gate City sits in

Cost of Living Index
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,044/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
42.0 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Hampden-Sydney
1,942 people
Stanley
1,976 people
Tappahannock
1,865 people
East Lexington
2,020 people
Pennington Gap
2,020 people
Dayton
2,023 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gate City's 1,939 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Maple Park, IL
1,939 people
Paulina, LA
1,939 people
Lame Deer, MT
1,939 people
Jarales, NM
1,939 people
Siesta Shores, TX
1,939 people
Grove Hill, AL
1,940 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gate City's $37,188 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bath, IL
$37,188 median income
Oscoda, MI
$37,188 median income
Ridgeway, MO
$37,188 median income
Stoutland, MO
$37,188 median income
Warrenton, NC
$37,188 median income
Depew, OK
$37,188 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gate City, VA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Gate City, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.4% White 90.8% Black or African American 2.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 6.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Gate City compares to nearby Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Gate City (this city) 1,939 $37,188
Hampden-Sydney 1,942 $148,846
Stanley 1,976 $59,583
Tappahannock 1,865 $44,896
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gate City, VA?

What is the population of Gate City, VA? +

Gate City, VA counts 1,939 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Gate City, VA? +

In Gate City, the typical household earns $37,188 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gate City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gate City; the closest available measure is the Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

Is Gate City, VA safe? +

Gate City has a total crime rate of 1935.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Gate City, VA? +

The median home value in Gate City is $158,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.