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Galax, VA (independent city): population growth, jobs and income

Galax lost 31 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.5%).

Galax had an estimated 6,670 residents in 2025, down 0.7% (46 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Virginia as a whole (+2.8%), and the 97th fastest growth of 133 counties in Virginia.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Galax city report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Galax city, ranked against Virginia and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$743/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes14.0%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months52025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

New homes permitted

6

2025

0.9 per 1,000 residents

Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration added 0 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 4,771 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −12.8% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 3.7% in 2025, 0.4 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 6 new homes in 2025, or 0.9 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $38,675 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +9.9% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,099th.

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Galax city population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
20256,670−31
20246,701−76
20236,777+57
20226,720+64
20216,656−60
20206,716–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Galax city

Galax city lost 46 people since 2020 even though 105 more people moved in from other U.S. counties than left: deaths outnumbered births by 151, and net international migration took away 6.

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths−30−151
International migrationfrom and to other countries−2−6
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+0+105
Census adjustmentbalancing residual+1+6
Total change−31−46

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn VirginiaAmong U.S. counties
Population growth97th of 1332,099th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents102nd of 1331,913th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth125th of 1332,906th of 3,092
Median household income133rd of 1333,052nd of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate82nd of 1331,239th of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents107th of 1322,153rd of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

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The County Growth and Demographics Report for Galax city, VA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

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Neighbouring counties

Galax lost population faster than all 2 of its neighbouring counties (−0.7%, 2020–25).

Its median household income ($38,675, 2020–24) is lower than in all 2 of its neighbouring counties.

Galax city, VA and its 2 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Galax, VA This county6,670−0.7%0.00.9$38,675
Carroll County, VA29,299+0.5%11.32.6$54,484
Grayson County, VA15,230−0.3%4.52.2$47,730

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 133 Virginia counties · Every state

Questions

Is Galax growing?

No. Its population fell 0.7% between 2020 and 2025, about 46 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Virginia as a whole changed +2.8% over the same years. That ranks 97th of 133 counties in Virginia for population growth.

How many people moved to Galax?

On net, about 0 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in Galax?

It averaged 3.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Galax?

About 6,670 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Galax?

Private employers there had 4,771 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −12.8% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Virginia

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Virginia county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

Galax city data alerts

Email me when Galax city gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Galax city is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.