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Giles County, Virginia Demographics 2026

Giles County, Virginia has a population of 16,610, the 90th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $64,819 and the median home value is $143,500. The poverty rate is 8.9%.

Giles County Quick Facts

Population 16,610
Median Household Income $64,819
Median Home Value $143,500
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment Rate 2.3%
Median Age 45.8 years
Homeownership Rate 78.9%
Affordability Ratio 2.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 18.0%
High School Graduation 91.2%
Cities/Places 7
Population 16,610 90th of 133
Median Income $64,819 29% lower than state
Poverty Rate 8.9%
Unemployment 2.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.5%
$25K-$50K 21.6%
$50K-$100K 38.4%
$100K+ 24.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.6%
$10K-$15K
3.9%
$15K-$20K
5.2%
$20K-$25K
2.8%
$25K-$30K
5.2%
$30K-$35K
5.0%
$35K-$40K
5.1%
$40K-$45K
4.0%
$45K-$50K
2.4%
$50K-$60K
7.6%
$60K-$75K
16.0%
$75K-$100K
14.8%
$100K-$125K
8.5%
$125K-$150K
6.9%
$150K-$200K
5.9%
$200K+
3.1%

Employment

2.3% Unemployment Rate State: 4.3%|National: 5.2%
55.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.9%
Renter 21.1%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

11out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 60 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Giles County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Pearisburg2,864$72,92411.2%$160,200
Narrows2,064$61,8945.9%$110,000
Pembroke1,130$57,8418.1%$132,000
Rich Creek781$49,68814.5%$129,200
Ripplemead347$77,2180.0%$121,200
Eggleston97$118,9290.0%$141,100
Glen Lyn66$75,00012.1%$171,900

Population Overview

Giles County is located in Virginia with a total population of 16,610. It is the 90th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Giles County is 45.8 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Giles County is $64,819. This is 29% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 17% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 8.9%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $143,500. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Giles County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Giles County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (94.3% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.

Education

18.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Giles County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Giles County, Virginia?

Giles County has a population of 16,610, making it the 90th most populous county in Virginia.

What is the median income in Giles County?

The median household income in Giles County is $64,819 with a poverty rate of 8.9%.

How many cities are in Giles County, Virginia?

Giles County contains 7 Census-designated places.