The Town FilesPulaski, Virginia
Town in Pulaski County · population 8,985 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,500
- Household income
- $49,491
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 38.5
Pulaski is a town of 8,985 people in Pulaski County, Virginia. The median home is worth $160,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for cycling than 76% of Virginia towns, hipper than 72% of Virginia towns.
How Pulaski 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 Pulaski is worth $160,500, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $49,491, which is more affordable than 75% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $736 a month. 58.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pulaski | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,500 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $736 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $49,491 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Pulaski
| People | Pulaski | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.5% | 91.8% |
Weather in Pulaski
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 23.6°F. About 40.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pulaski since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 8, 2011 about 1.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 2, 2002.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 22 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 |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 14,919 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,746 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Pulaski itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Pulaski
4 public schools with 1,679 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County Middle | 6-8 | 797 | 13.1 |
| Pulaski Elementary | PK-5 | 492 | 12.9 |
| Critzer Elementary | PK-5 | 390 | 11.8 |
| Southwest Virginia Governor's School | Other | — | — |
Towns near Pulaski
- Dublin, VA5.4 mi · 2,682 people · home $180,500
- Radford, VA12.1 mi · 16,070 people · home $220,700
- Pearisburg, VA19.2 mi · 2,909 people · home $157,400
- Wytheville, VA19.3 mi · 8,265 people · home $196,800
- Hillsville, VA20.2 mi · 2,884 people · home $159,000
- Christiansburg, VA20.6 mi · 23,348 people · home $252,600
- Merrimac, VA21.1 mi · 2,858 people · home —
- Blacksburg, VA22.2 mi · 44,826 people · home $446,300
Pulaski questions
Is Pulaski, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pulaski scores better for retirees than 26% of Virginia towns and quieter than 58%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Pulaski?
The median owner-occupied home in Pulaski is valued at $160,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,491, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $736 a month.
What is the weather like in Pulaski?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 23.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.0 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Pulaski get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pulaski since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 8, 2011. 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)