1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of Giles County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $65,691. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Giles County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- 16,557 residents: Giles County basics
- The Giles County job picture
- Giles County income bands
- What it costs to live in Giles County
- Giles County's most unusual numbers
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Giles County
- Before borrowing in Giles County
- What a median Giles County budget can carry
- Giles County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Giles County borrowers
- Virginia rules that apply in Giles County
- Beyond Giles County
- Frequently asked questions
16,557 residents: Giles County basics
Giles County is home to about 16,557 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 92nd most populous of 133 county-level areas in Virginia. Land area is 357 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 46 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA metropolitan area. Largest place: Pearisburg, about 2,860 residents (17% of Giles County); 7 Census places in all.
The Giles County job picture
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 21%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 21% locally and 7% for Virginia. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. No car: 7.1% of Giles County households.
| Industry | Share of Giles County workers | vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | +4.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.9% | +13.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -9.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -1.6 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Giles County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Giles County income bands
At $65,691, the typical Giles County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 73 Virginia counties post a higher median.
| Band | Giles County | Compared with Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.0% | +14.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -13.3 pts |
23% under $35,000 and 27% at $100,000 or more: that is the Giles County income split. The poverty rate is 9.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 9.9%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Giles County
Renters in Giles County pay a median of $789 a month, 50% below the Virginia figure of $1,579. By the Census definition, 32% of Giles County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $151,100, or 2.3 years of median income. In Giles County, 79% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Giles County | Virginia | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 49% | -16.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 19.4% | 4.3% | +15.1 pts |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | +11.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 25% | -7.3 pts |
| Median home value | $151,100 | $383,700 | 61% lower |
| Median gross rent | $789/mo | $1,579/mo | 50% lower |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Giles County's most unusual numbers
Where Giles County lands at the extremes of Virginia's county rankings:
- Giles County ranks the lowest of 133 Virginia counties for the share of workers who work from home: 2.5%, against 18.3% statewide. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
- Few Virginia counties match Giles County on the ACS unemployment rate: 2.1% here, 4.3% for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 133. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- Few Virginia counties match Giles County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 32% here, 49% for the state, ranking 7th lowest of 133. Lower rent burdens mean more renters have slack, but test your own numbers.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 16 to 25 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Giles County; Montgomery County is highest at $72,715 and Summers County lowest at $40,699. The list crosses into West Virginia, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giles County | - | $65,691 | $789/mo | 79% |
| Radford city, VA | 16 mi | $57,348 | $1,033/mo | 42% |
| Pulaski County, VA | 18 mi | $62,028 | $813/mo | 73% |
| Monroe County, WV | 18 mi | $56,750 | $690/mo | 87% |
| Montgomery County, VA | 20 mi | $72,715 | $1,240/mo | 55% |
| Mercer County, WV | 23 mi | $53,210 | $810/mo | 73% |
| Summers County, WV | 25 mi | $40,699 | $915/mo | 81% |
Towns and communities in Giles County
7,046 of Giles County's 16,557 residents live in its 7 Census places (43%); the 7 largest are listed. Pearisburg has the highest median household income on the list ($75,532) and Rich Creek the lowest ($48,750), counting places with at least 500 residents. Pearisburg and every other Giles County community use this county guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearisburg | town | 2,860 | $75,532 | $848 | 2 mi |
| Narrows | town | 1,935 | $62,708 | $931 | 6 mi |
| Pembroke | town | 996 | $57,500 | $796 | 3 mi |
| Rich Creek | town | 776 | $48,750 | $478 | 8 mi |
| Ripplemead | CDP | 294 | $79,000 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Eggleston | CDP | 117 | $128,333 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Glen Lyn | town | 68 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Before borrowing in Giles County
Where the Giles County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 19% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Giles County's median age is 45.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
What a median Giles County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Giles County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,474 before taxes
- Median rent: $789, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,182 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,565 a month
A household below the $65,691 median has less room than this, often none.
Giles County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Bachelor's degree or higher: 18% of Giles County adults. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Giles County | Difference from Virginia | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | -24.5 pts | -4.5 pts |
| Work from home | 2.5% | -15.8 pts | -6.1 pts |
| Median age | 45.4 | +6.4 yrs | +3.9 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | -2.1 pts | -2.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | +1.0 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | -0.6 pts | -3.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | -0.4 pts | -1.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | -0.3 pts | n/a |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Four steps for Giles County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Giles County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Virginia rules that apply in Giles County
The Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Virginia license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Beyond Giles County
Next step up from Giles County:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Giles County?
$65,691 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $93,170 for Virginia. It ranks 74th of 133 in the state.
What do renters pay in Giles County?
$789 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
I own my home in Giles County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 79% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Giles County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Pearisburg, Narrows, Pembroke, Rich Creek, Ripplemead and 2 more.
Does living in Giles County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Giles County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.