Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Fries’ median rent is $333 a month, where Virginia’s towns sit at $1,762 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. Of the 254 Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower median household income than Fries. Fries Boarding Houses is on the National Register of Historic Places. Fries has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Fries beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 1,775 in 1910, a peak of 2,205 in 1930, 450 in 2020. The archive holds 24 old photos and papers going back to 1910 and 4 maps from 1933 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Fries, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Fries.
The typical Fries home is worth about $152,000, up 5.7% in a year, 63% below the Virginia typical home.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Grayson County Public Schools. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fries ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–7 | Grades PK–7 | 231 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts
Most working residents leave Fries for work: only 1% work in town. 17% of residents live below the poverty line in Fries. The top destinations are Galax (29%), Independence (7%) and Hillsville (5%).
| Fries | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1% | 4.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. New River Trail State Park | — | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
The July high in Fries is 83°F. Fries has chilly winters and pleasant summers.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 61% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
20% of Fries adults report frequent physical distress. Only 9 of the 254 Virginia towns we compare have a higher share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Fries. 18% of Fries adults report frequent mental distress.
| Fries | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 12% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 33% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 23% | 25% |
| What stands out | Fries | VA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.1% | 14.5% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 83.9% | 76.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 14% | 6.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Fries; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Fries residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
Where Fries’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Virginia, United States
Fries (pronounced "freeze") is an incorporated town located on the New River in Grayson County, Virginia, United States, 15.5 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of the county seat of Independence — in Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands and on Virginia's musical heritage trail, The Crooked Road. As of the 2020 census, Fries had a population of 450. Named after prominent cotton mill owner, Francis Henry Fries, the town is noted as the former site of Washington Mill (1903–1989); as one of three end points of the New River Trail State Park and as the host of annual music festivals reflecting its strong bluegrass and country music traditions — with its August Old-Time Fiddlers' and Bluegrass Conventio…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Fries has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
