Wise County, Virginia Demographics 2026

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.

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. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. 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%.