The Town FilesGalax, Virginia
City in Galax city · population 6,720 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,300
- Household income
- $38,675
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.9
Galax is a city of 6,720 people in Galax city, Virginia. The median home is worth $141,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks hipper than 83% of Virginia towns, more walkable than 72% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 70% of Virginia towns.
How Galax ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Galax is worth $141,300, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $38,675, which is more affordable than 57% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $743 a month. 56.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Galax | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,300 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $743 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $38,675 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Galax
| People | Galax | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.1% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Galax
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.6 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galax since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 8, 2009 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 27, 2021.
Severe weather in Galax city since 1996
Galax city has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Galax city
Galax city had 5,805 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,651 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Galax itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Galax
6 public schools with 2,010 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galax Elementary | PK-5 | 685 | 14.3 |
| Galax High | 9-12 | 403 | 14.4 |
| Galax Middle | 6-8 | 329 | 15.0 |
| Gladeville Elementary | PK-5 | 259 | 14.4 |
| Oakland Elementary | PK-5 | 187 | 11.7 |
| Fairview Elementary | PK-5 | 147 | 11.3 |
Towns near Galax
- Hillsville, VA11.9 mi · 2,884 people · home $159,000
- Mount Airy, NC19.9 mi · 10,676 people · home $181,900
- Wytheville, VA22.1 mi · 8,265 people · home $196,800
- Pulaski, VA28.0 mi · 8,985 people · home $160,500
- Elkin, NC28.0 mi · 4,122 people · home $226,900
Galax questions
Is Galax, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Galax scores better for retirees than 14% of Virginia towns and quieter than 42%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Galax?
The median owner-occupied home in Galax is valued at $141,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,675, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $743 a month.
What is the weather like in Galax?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 16.6 inches of snow.
Does Galax get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Galax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 8, 2009. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)