Pulaski, VA

Census place 5164880 · pop 8,893

D−45/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in VA
📍 Virginia ranks #14 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster10/100 · top 1%
🚽 Broadband80.5% · bottom 4%
Taxes
0.68% property · US 0.99%5.77% sales · US 7.00%up to 5.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Broadband access80.5%4

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

80.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Income inequality0.525

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.52 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult smoking18.8%10

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

18.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$49,49111

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$49,491 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher16.7%13

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

16.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poor mental health19.7%14

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Poverty rate21.2%15

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

21.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Physical inactivity31.6%19

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

31.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult obesity38.4%28

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

38.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Homeownership58.9%35

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

58.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Population growth (5yr)+1.1%37

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Uninsured adults10.0%46

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

10.0% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Commute time23 min58

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property-tax burden0.68%75

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Housing cost$160,50083

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$160,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.7%89

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level10/10099

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

10/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Pulaski: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Pulaski, VA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Pulaski scores 45/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 17 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is broadband access. Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Pulaski, VA expensive to live in?
Pulaski has a median home value of $160,500 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Pulaski, VA?
Its weakest measured area is broadband access (80.5%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Pulaski, VA best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (10/100) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.