Wise County, Virginia Demographics 2026
Wise County, Virginia has a population of 35,727, the 49th most populous county in Virginia. The median household income is $50,740 and the median home value is $116,500. The poverty rate is 17.7%.
Wise County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 60 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Wise County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Stone Gap | 5,193 | $51,059 | 23.3% | $169,900 |
| Wise | 2,940 | $44,234 | 21.3% | $118,100 |
| Appalachia | 1,612 | $38,942 | 32.5% | $65,500 |
| Coeburn | 1,606 | $53,750 | 18.4% | $107,800 |
| St. Paul | 1,046 | $29,554 | 33.4% | $178,800 |
| Pound | 839 | $28,277 | 27.1% | $97,300 |
| East Stone Gap | 792 | N/A | 0.0% | $113,800 |
| Riverview | 652 | $50,870 | 12.6% | $43,600 |
| The University of Virginia's College at Wise | 538 | N/A | 84.2% | N/A |
| Big Stone Gap East | 430 | N/A | 30.2% | $168,100 |
| Stonega | 154 | $39,808 | 0.0% | $54,500 |
| Tacoma | 141 | $46,313 | 5.0% | $109,500 |
| Osaka | 86 | $23,750 | 69.8% | N/A |
| Dunbar | 51 | $14,420 | 84.3% | N/A |
Explore Virginia Rankings
Population Overview
Wise County is located in Virginia with a total population of 35,727. It is the 49th most populous county out of 133 in Virginia. The county encompasses 14 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wise County is 42.1 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wise County is $50,740. This is 44% lower than the state median of $90,974. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 17.7%. This is 79% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 8.4%. This is 96% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $116,500. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $360,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Wise County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Wise County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (90.5% vs 59.0%). The Black or African American population (5.3%) is well below the state average of 18.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 6.8%.
Education
15.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 62% lower than the state rate of 41.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Wise County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Wise County, Virginia?
Wise County has a population of 35,727, making it the 49th most populous county in Virginia.
What is the median income in Wise County?
The median household income in Wise County is $50,740 with a poverty rate of 17.7%.
How many cities are in Wise County, Virginia?
Wise County contains 14 Census-designated places.