At a Glance
Median Income
$41,438
$31,429 per capita
Home Value
$126,800
Zillow: $175,815
Median Rent
$692/mo
23.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
459/100K
4,035/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
18.3%
83.0% high school+
Unemployment
3.1%
19.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.6%
20.1% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
53°F
305 sunny days/yr
How Galax Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Galax's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Galax a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.8 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Galax residents earn a median household income of $41,438 , which is 45% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $31,429. The unemployment rate stands at 3.1% (14% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 19.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 400 business establishments, including 33 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Galax is $126,800 , 55% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $175,815. Median rent is $692/month, with 23.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 101.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1969.
Safety & Crime
Galax reports 459 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 21% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,035/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
18.3% of adults in Galax hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(46% below the national average).
83.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Galax has an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C).
Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 45.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.
Data Overview
People
Population6,698
Median Age41.9 yrs
Density813/mi²
Male / Female44% / 56%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans9.1%
Economy
C+
Median Income$41,438
Per Capita$31,429
Unemployment3.1%
Poverty19.9%
Avg Weekly Wage$801
Housing
A+
Home Value$126,800
Rent$692
Ownership61.6%
Zillow$175,815
Housing Units3,169
Rent Burden23.8%
Crime
F
Violent459/100K
Property4,035/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault253/100K
Burglary269/100K
Health
Obesity39.6%
Diabetes14.0%
Smoking20.1%
Heart Disease7.2%
Premature Death19,228/100K
Climate
Avg Temp53°F
Sunny Days305/yr
Rain45.6 in/yr
AQI35 (Good)
Elevation2,459 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+18.3%
High School+83.0%
Graduate+7.2%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 72% / D 28%
Commute20 min
Broadband86.6%
Internet Speed136 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries1
Did You Know?
Galax was founded in 1906.
The median home in Galax was built in 1969.
The nearest airport is Statesville Regional (62 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.516 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
14.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 136 Mbps.