| | Athens, WV | Galax, VA | United States |
| Population | 1,142 | 6,681 | 329,725,481 |
| Female Population | 48.4% | 53.9% | 50.5% |
| Male Population | 51.6% | 46.1% | 49.5% |
| Median Age | 23.5 | 42.1 | 38.4 |
| space3 | | | |
| Population - 2010 | 1,043 | 6,989 | 309,327,143 |
| Population - 2000 | 1,102 | 6,837 | 285,036,114 |
| Population - 1990 | 741 | 6,670 | 251,960,433 |
| Pop. 2000 to Now | -19.2% | -7.9% | 15.6% |
| Pop. 1990 to Now | 20.1% | -5.6% | 30.8% |
| space4 | | | |
| Population Density | 2,898.5 | 811.2 | 93.4 |
| Land Area | 0.4 | 8.2 | 3,531,905.4 |
| Water Area | 0.0 | 0.0 | 264,836.8 |
| space | | | |
| Est. Total Population By Age | | | |
| | Athens, WV | Galax, VA | United States |
| Age 0 to 4 | 2.5% | 6.3% | 5.9% |
| Age 5 to 9 | 3.5% | 7.4% | 6.1% |
| Age 10 to 14 | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.6% |
| Age 15 to 17 | 5.4% | 3.6% | 3.9% |
| Age 18 to 20 | 21.9% | 3.1% | 4.0% |
| Age 21 to 24 | 12.4% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Age 25 to 34 | 8.1% | 9.6% | 13.8% |
| Age 35 to 44 | 6.9% | 12.8% | 12.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 | 7.7% | 13.1% | 12.6% |
| Age 55 to 59 | 4.7% | 6.9% | 6.7% |
| Age 60 to 64 | 5.7% | 7.8% | 6.3% |
| Age 65 to 74 | 8.1% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Age 75 to 84 | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and over | 1.4% | 2.8% | 1.9% |
| space1 | | | |
| Race | | | |
| | Athens, WV | Galax, VA | United States |
| White | 88.7% | 75.1% | 59.4% |
| Black | 8.8% | 4.2% | 12.2% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.5% | 5.6% |
| Native American | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% | 1.5% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 2.5% | 17.8% | 18.4% |
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| Marriage & Family | | | |
| | Athens, WV | Galax, VA | United States |
| Married Population | 30.6% | 50.6% | 49.8% |
| Currently Married | 30.6% | 47.6% | 48.0% |
| Married but Separated | 0.0% | 3.1% | 1.8% |
| Single Population | 69.4% | 49.4% | 50.2% |
| Never Married | 55.2% | 26.1% | 33.8% |
| Divorced | 8.8% | 12.9% | 10.8% |
| Widowed | 5.3% | 10.4% | 5.6% |
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| Household Size | 3.25 | 2.29 | 2.60 |
| Households | 266 | 2,780 | 124,010,992 |
| Family Households | 215 | 1,695 | 80,755,759 |
| Married couple, w/children | 14.0% | 25.5% | 30.5% |
| Married couple, no children | 54.4% | 48.2% | 42.9% |
| Non Family Households | 51 | 1,085 | 43,255,233 |
| Single householder, w/children | 11.2% | 18.5% | 15.8% |
| Single householder, no children | 20.5% | 7.8% | 10.8% |