Galax: Demographics & People
Galax's population stands at 6,726 people, in 2,763 households. Population grew 0.4% from 6,698 (2022) to 6,726 (2024). Median age 42.9 years. (5.1y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 77% White (non-Hispanic) and 14% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.34). 58% of households are family-led. County health: 41% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 85 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.4% from 6,698 (2022) to 6,726 (2024) — close to the U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~6,754 (extrapolated at 0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 6,792.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 6,720 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 6,698 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 6,726 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 6,726 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 6,792 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.9y is 4.0 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 24.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 6,726 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,669 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,117.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,522.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,418 |
| Population under 18 | 1,669 |
| Median age | 42.9 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 6,726 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.34 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 5,384 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 327 |
| Asian residents | 10 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 1,057 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 34.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 79.4% |
| Asian population | 0.3% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 4.9% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 14.1% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 76.8% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.3% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 6% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 4,377 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,892 |
| Share born in this state | 65.1% |
| Share born in another state | 34.9% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 28.1% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.3% |
| Naturalized citizens | 5.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 520 |
| From Europe | 39 |
| From Africa | 25 |
Households & Family Composition
2,763 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,695 families, 21% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,632 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,695 |
| Married couples with children | 352 |
| Single-parent households | 58 |
| Average household size | 2.34 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 17.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 274 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 138 |
| Family households | 1,599 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 57.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 2,763 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 18.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 18.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 6,235 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 6,201 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 34 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 385 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 6.0% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 264 residents live in group quarters (3.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 264 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51640 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 640 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Galax City |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 43.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 32.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 57.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51640 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Galax city |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 785 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51640 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Galax city |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 41.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 37.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 1.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 6,347 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 6.20 |
| Family Score · Schools | 7 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 4 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 24.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 6,726, stable, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 6,726 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Galax city |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade