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CITY

Wise

Virginia · 2,853 residents (2025 est.) · 3.038 sq mi
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The short version

Wise has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,596. Population has declined 10% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $144,700. Households here earn about 42% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,916
−10%since 2000
from 3,255 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
960 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 1,071 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.5
−4%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,853 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K3K3K1990201020202024Wise
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,596
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,531 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,200
+82%since 2000
from $18,760 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.1%
+17.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.457
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.459 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information17.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services3.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade1.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$144,700
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$825
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.3%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 65.7% in 2000
28.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.0%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
28.8%
−11.1 ptssince 2009
from 39.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+10%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
36
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wise on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(3,080)
Black1.9%(63)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(46)
Asian1.1%(37)
Other0%
Diversity Score11%(357)
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(2,782)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(39)
Asian0.3%(10)
Other2.9%(85)
Diversity Score11.1%(324)
Diversity Score
11
+1%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.7%
+17.0 ptssince 2000
from 69.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.0%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.9 min
+70%since 2000
from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.6%
−19.3 ptssince 2009
from 89.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.5%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 58.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
29.9%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.0%
−21.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Female
47.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Foreign born
4.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−45.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.8%
+6.9 ptssince 2012
from 14.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.8%
−82.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.1%
+24.6 ptssince 2017
from 70.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 98.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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WISE VS
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WISE VS
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WISE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wise, Virginia?

Wise, Virginia has about 2,916 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wise, Virginia?

The typical household in Wise, Virginia earns about $53,596 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wise, Virginia expensive?

In Wise, Virginia, the median home is worth about $144,700, and the typical rent is about $825 a month.

How educated are people in Wise, Virginia?

About 25.2% of adults age 25 and over in Wise, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wise, Virginia?

About 12.5% of people in Wise, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wise, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Wise, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 277 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Wise, Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy