Living in Giles County, Virginia

The New River runs straight through Giles County. Pearisburg and Narrows anchor a rural, lower-tax county with Appalachian Trail access and mountain-town pace.

See what you can afford in Giles County →

Housing market

The median sale price in Giles County is $175,000, with most homes between $100,000 and $252,000.

Local starting points

Home-buying activity

In 2025, lenders financed 190 home purchases in Giles County, at a median mortgage of $185,000. 67% of new mortgages were purchases rather than refinances.

About 34% of mortgage applications were denied. Source: federal HMDA mortgage data (2025).

Jobs & hiring

A sample of what's open right now at New River Valley-area employers (on-site & remote):

• GIFT SHOP REPRESENTATIVE · Carilion Clinic, Christiansburg, Virginia
• Scribe - Carilion Orthopedic Surgery · Carilion Clinic, Blacksburg, Virginia
• Software Engineer II - Fleet Enablement & Insights · Torc Robotics, Ann Arbor, MI, Blacksburg, VA, Fort Worth, TX
• Healthcare Administrative Associate - Giles Medical Office Building · Carilion Clinic, Pearisburg, Virginia
• Physical Therapist Assistant- Home Care · Carilion Clinic, Radford, Virginia

See all open roles & the RBTC job board →

Commute & how people work

About 2% of Giles County workers work from home and the typical commute runs 29 min.

How long the commute is, share of commuters

How people get to work, share of workers

Check drive times from a specific address →

Compare commutes across New River Valley →

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2024). County-wide figures, not a specific address.

Schools

Giles County Public Schools reports a 93% on-time graduation rate, with 63% passing Math and 72% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments (VDOE School Quality Profile).

Giles County Public Schools →

Before you choose an address

• Which school is assigned to this exact address today?
• Are there specialty, magnet, or transfer programs with separate deadlines?
• What is the real commute or bus time during morning drop-off?
• Giles County covers a long rural geography; verify exact school assignment, bus timing, and commute from the specific address.

Check a specific address for nearby schools, commute, and services →

Compare school signals across New River Valley →

Amenities & walkability

Within a few miles you'll find about 0 restaurants & cafes and 0 grocery stores. The town center is car-dependent (0 walkable spots within a mile). Counts from OpenStreetMap.

Delivery & shopping apps

For everyday convenience, these are the clearest delivery-service signals we found for Giles County.

• Amazon Prime Same-Day: Check exact address, Amazon requires an exact delivery address, ZIP, item, and membership state.
• Amazon Prime One-Day: Check exact address, Amazon requires an exact delivery address, ZIP, item, and membership state.
• Amazon Prime Two-Day: Check exact address, Amazon requires an exact delivery address, ZIP, item, and membership state.

Exact delivery windows can vary by address, item, membership, restaurant hours, and driver availability. These checks use public service pages and do not log into private accounts.

Parks & the outdoors

Giles County has roughly 0 parks nearby, with easy access to Cascades National Recreation Trail, Appalachian Trail, New River Water Trail. Park counts from OpenStreetMap; destinations are well-known local landmarks.

Public parks & trails include Narrows Town Park, Pearisburg Community Center Park, Whitt-Riverbend Park, Appalachian Trail, Cascades National Recreation Trail, New River Water Trail. From county/city GIS.

Local rhythm

Local businesses

Use this as a daily-life snapshot: grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, and everyday places that help you picture a normal week in Giles County. Owner-approved details appear when available.

Grocery & markets

• Grant's IGA Supermarket, 103 Macarthur Lane, Narrows, VA 24124
• Walmart Supercenter, 160 Kinter Way, Pearisburg, VA 24134
• Food Lion, 302 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
• Narrows Farmers Market, 135 Monroe Street, Narrows, VA 24124
• Smith Valley Meats, 246 Church Street
• Jewell's, 1525 Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147

Restaurants

• Bluegrass BBQ, 609 Snidow Street, Pembroke, VA 24136
  Wheelchair accessibleTakeoutCuisine: Barbecue
• Burger King, 2771 Virginia Avenue, Narrows, VA 24124
  TakeoutDeliveryCuisine: Burgers
• Domino's, 165 Kinter Way, Pearisburg, VA 24134
  TakeoutCuisine: Pizza
• DQ Grill & Chill, 503 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
  TakeoutCuisine: BurgersCuisine: Dessert
• Hardee's, 528 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
  TakeoutCuisine: Burgers
• Papa's Pizzeria and Subs, 111 Tazewell Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
  Cuisine: PizzaCuisine: Sandwiches

Cafes & coffee

• Sugar + Flour, 129 South Main Street, VA
• Bahama Snow Shack
  Outdoor seating

Shops & retail

• Havens Hill Florist, 118 Monroe Street, Narrows, VA 24124
• Dollar General
• Dorsey's Jewelry, 360 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Exchanging Hands, 311 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Gateway Gifts, 247 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• The Peddler, 530 Wenonah Avenue, VA

Health & medical

• River Ridge Dermatology, 2829 Virginia Avenue, Narrows, VA 24124
• Giles County Health Department, 120 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
• Hoke Family Dentistry, PLLC, 112 Center Street, Narrows, VA 24124
• Brackenrich Family Practice, 363 Woodland Road, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Pearisburg Dental Center

Pharmacies

• Walgreens, 121 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
• Smith's Super-Aid Pharmacy, 247 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147

Personal care

• Mirror Images, 108 Northview Street, Narrows, VA 24124
  Wheelchair accessible
• Guys & Dolls Hair Salon, 309 Giles Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Sunsations Tanning Center, 309 Giles Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Color Me Crazy Salon & Spa
• Simply Charming Salon

Hotels & lodging

• MacArthur Inn, 117 Macarthur Lane, Narrows, VA 24124
• Plaza Motel, 415 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
• Inn At Riverbend, 125 River Ridge Drve, Pearisburg, VA 24134
• Holiday Lodge
• Inn At Riverbend Building 2

Banks

• FNBP Narrows, 110 Old Virginia Avenue, Narrows, VA 24124
• National Bank
• Truist

Hardware & home

• Reece's Building Supply, 2683 Virginia Avenue, Narrows, VA 24124

Auto services

• Narrows Quick Lube, 2721 Virginia Avenue, Narrows, VA 24124
• Auto Specialty Care, +1-540-726-2002
• Shrader's Auto Service Inc, 508 North Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134
• AutoZone
• John's Auto Service, +1-540-921-2187
• Neighborhood Automotive, 1599 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147

Churches & faith communities

• New Valley Fellowship, 200 Roberta Street, Narrows, VA 24124
• Cornerstone Church, 903 College Street, Narrows, VA 24124
• First Presbyterian Church, 702 Memorial Boulevard, Narrows, VA 24124
• First Baptist Church, 300 Giles Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
  Baptist
• Pearisburg Baptist Church, 529 Wenonah Avenue, VA
  Baptist
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5905 Virginia Avenue, VA
  Latter-day Saints

Other services

• Creekside Laundry Mat, 114 Monroe Street, Narrows, VA 24124
• Scrub N Bubbles

Gas stations

• Sunoco, +1 540-921-0106
• 76
• Citgo, 403 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Light's Convenience Station, Virginia Avenue, Narrows, VA 24124
• Shell, 505 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Exxon

Convenience stores

• Corner Market Country Store, 201 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Rich Creek Mini Mart, 403 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Stop In, 505 Old Virginia Avenue, Rich Creek, VA 24147
• Tangent Outfitters, 201 Cascade Drive, Pembroke, VA 24136

Browse the full Giles County directory, search businesses, parks & employers →

Business listings start from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and public local directories; owner-approved updates appear after review. Own or manage one? Claim or add your listing.

Newcomer resources

Government & towns

• Giles County, VA

Schools & enrollment

• Giles County Public Schools

Health & urgent care

• Carilion Giles Community Hospital

Parks & the outdoors

• Giles County, Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Things to do

• Giles County Tourism

Pets & animal services

• Giles County Animal Shelter

Newcomer & community

• Giles County Chamber of Commerce

Community & events

Year-round, locals turn out for Giles County's New River outdoor season, Pearisburg and Narrows small-town festivals, Cascades and Appalachian Trail weekends.

Sports & recreation

From college athletics to local clubs, here is what to catch in and around Giles County.

Parks & recreation

• Narrows Parks and Recreation, Narrows Town Park · Year-round
• New River Water Trail, New River access points · Spring to Fall
• Pearisburg Parks & Recreation, Pearisburg Community Center / Town Park · Year-round

Curated local teams and venues.

Major employers & institutions

The biggest workplaces in and around Giles County: the universities, hospitals, plants, and offices that anchor the local economy.

Hospitals & health systems

• Carilion Giles Community Hospital
• Giles County Health Department

Manufacturing & factories

• Celanese
• Celanese Narrows plant

Government & public sector

• Commissioner of Accounts
• Giles Country Health Department
• Giles County Annex Building
• Giles County Courthouse
• Giles County government and outdoor recreation
• Giles County Public Schools
• Town of Pearisburg Department of Public Works

Major employers & offices

• State Farm

Business & industrial parks

• Celanese Acetate LLC Power Plant

A starting list of the area's largest workplaces, compiled from public sources and OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL).

Healthcare

Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg covers local emergency and routine care; higher-acuity specialty care usually points to Christiansburg or Roanoke.

Check drive times to care from a specific address →

Internet & remote work

Cable, DSL, fixed-wireless, and rural fiber availability vary sharply by road, so remote workers should verify a specific address before making an offer.

Verify broadband at the address level →

Climate

Mountain-valley NRV climate with four seasons; river corridors can feel warmer than the ridges and winter weather varies by elevation.

Safety

Very rural, with small-town centers in Pearisburg, Narrows, Pembroke, and Rich Creek. Safety varies block to block, so check current local crime data before you decide.

By the numbers

Cost of living

Who lives here

Source: U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates.

Risk

Source: FEMA NFHL (approx, area-weighted)

Frequently asked questions

How much do homes cost in Giles County?

The median sale price in Giles County is $175,000, with most homes between $100,000 and $252,000.

What are property taxes like in Giles County?

Giles County's real-estate tax rate is about $0.68 per $100 of assessed value (roughly 0.68% a year).

How are the schools in Giles County?

Giles County Public Schools reports a 93% on-time graduation rate, with 63% passing Math and 72% passing Reading on Virginia SOL assessments.

Who are the major employers near Giles County?

Major employers include Giles County Public Schools, Carilion Giles Community Hospital, Celanese Narrows plant, Giles County government and outdoor recreation.

Where is the nearest hospital to Giles County?

Carilion Giles Community Hospital in Pearisburg covers local emergency and routine care; higher-acuity specialty care usually points to Christiansburg or Roanoke.

How long is the commute in Giles County?

The average commute for Giles County workers is about 29 minutes, and 38% get to work in under 20 minutes. County-wide Census figures, not a specific address.

Can I work remotely from Giles County?

About 2% of Giles County workers already work from home. Cable, DSL, fixed-wireless, and rural fiber availability vary sharply by road, so remote workers should verify a specific address before making an offer.

Nearby area guides

Keep exploring New River Valley with nearby area guides.

Moving from out of state?

See your tax and cost-of-living savings if you're moving from out of state:

Local headlines

• News
  Notice from Water/Wastewater Department!

  City of Radford · Sep 13, 2026
• 
  NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSED CHANGES TO FLOYD COUNTY LAND DIVISION ORDINANCE

  Floyd County · Sep 10, 2026
• 
  When donors can’t keep up with rising athletic budgets, colleges are increasingly turning to school funds and mandatory student fees

  Cardinal News · Sep 10, 2026
• 
  Christiansburg ups requirements for any future data center

  Cardinal News · Sep 10, 2026
• 
  The Pulse: Virginia Tech researcher wants to help rural residents manage chronic pain

  Cardinal News · Sep 10, 2026
• News
  Floyd County Government Phone System Connectivity Issues

  Floyd County · Sep 9, 2026

All local news →

Compare costs in the moving guide →

Sources and freshnessLast rebuilt 2026-09-14 with public records and source notes for Living in Giles County.

• Last rebuilt 2026-09-14 from the latest records synced into this guide.
• Home-price medians use 443 recorded public sale rows across 1 area.
• Property and tax figures come from county/city parcel, sales, and assessor records.
• School metrics use Virginia Department of Education profiles when available.
• Amenity and business counts use OpenStreetMap, so hours and listings can change.
• Jobs, events, news, and business-directory layers are included only after their feeds or curated sources sync.
• Use these figures as planning estimates, then verify taxes, listings, and school details before making an offer.

Also exploring Southwest Virginia?

This page is focused on New River Valley. Open a neighboring guide when your search crosses into another part of the region.

Open Roanoke guideOpen Lynchburg guideOpen Charlottesville guideOpen Harrisonburg guideOpen Middle Peninsula guideOpen Winchester guideOpen NoVA guideOpen Bristol guideOpen Wytheville guideOpen SWVA guideOpen Culpeper guideOpen Martinsville guideOpen Southside guideOpen Farmville guideOpen Danville guideOpen Staunton guideOpen Richmond guideOpen Eastern Shore guideOpen Northern Neck guideOpen Alleghany guideOpen Fredericksburg guideOpen Petersburg guideOpen Hampton Roads guide