Pulaski: Demographics & People
About 8,893 people live in Pulaski, in 3,741 households. Population shrank 0.5% from 8,937 (2022) to 8,893 (2024). Median age 38.5 years. (8.3y younger than Pulaski County; 0.7y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 85% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.14). 55% of households are family-led. County is gaining 161 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 36% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.4 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 45% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 63 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.5% from 8,937 (2022) to 8,893 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~8,849 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 8,791.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,800 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 8,937 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 8,893 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 8,893 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 8,791 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 38.5y is 0.4 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 38.5 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 8,893 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,834 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 2,327.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,132.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,600 |
| Population under 18 | 1,834 |
| Median age | 38.5 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 8,893 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.14 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 7,809 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 386 |
| Asian residents | 103 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 155 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 14.4% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 92.4% |
| Asian population | 0.7% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 4.3% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 85.1% (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). 0.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 6,382 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,340 |
| Share born in this state | 71.8% |
| Share born in another state | 28.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 26.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 199 |
| From Europe | 95 |
| From Africa | 94 |
Households & Family Composition
3,741 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 55% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,164 families, 23% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,715 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,164 |
| Married couples with children | 503 |
| Single-parent households | 87 |
| Average household size | 2.37 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 315 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 99 |
| Family households | 2,066 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 55.2% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 3,741 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. 9.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 161 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 9.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 27,654 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 27,493 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 161 |
| 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 | 1,099 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 12.4% |
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. 95 residents live in group quarters (1.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 95 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51155 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 155 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Pulaski |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 30.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 24.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 35.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51155 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Pulaski County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,550 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51155 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Pulaski County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 50.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 44.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 29.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 34,027 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.40 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 3 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 8,893, stable, family-oriented, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 8,893 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Pulaski County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade