COMPARING TWO PLACES
Letcher County vs Wise County
PLACE A
Letcher County, Kentucky
VS
PLACE B
Wise County, Virginia
Letcher County is 43% smaller than Wise County. Wise County earns more, with a median household income $11,150 higher.
LETCHER COUNTYWISE COUNTYDIFFERENCE
Total population19,95234,824−43% vs Wise County
Population density5986−27
Population growth-12.1%-12.8%+0.7 pts
Median age43.541.8+1.7
Male50.2%52.6%−2.4 pts
Female49.8%47.4%+2.4 pts
Foreign-born0.7%1.5%−0.9 pts
White, non-Hispanic96.5%90.0%+6.6 pts
Black0.6%4.7%−4.1 pts
Hispanic / Latino0.8%1.4%−0.7 pts
Asian0.2%0.3%−0.1 pts
Other1.9%3.5%−1.7 pts
Median household income$41,793$52,943−$11,150
Per capita income$22,681$25,953−$3,272
Poverty rate24.4%17.2%+7.1 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4290.418+0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher12.5%15.8%−3.3 pts
Graduate degree5.5%5.6%−0.1 pts
Unemployment rate6.2%8.2%−2.1 pts
Labor force participation43.1%46.4%−3.3 pts
Median home value$67,400$118,600−$51,200
Median gross rent$669$790−$121
Owner-occupied74.1%74.2%−0.1 pts
Housing vacancy rate20.2%16.4%+3.8 pts
Rent-burdened households24.7%28.5%−3.8 pts
Average commute28.324.6+3.7
Worked from home7.6%10.7%−3.0 pts
Public transit to work0.1%0.2%−0.1 pts
Uninsured3.4%6.5%−3.1 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025