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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Wise County

Virginia · 36,130 residents · 403.44 sq mi
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The short version

Wise County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,285. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $87,300. The poverty rate of 21.1% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 46% less than the Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
36,130
−10%since 2000
from 40,123 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
90 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 99 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.8
+13%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
35K37K39K40K42K1990201020202024Wise County
202435K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,285
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,149 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,508
+51%since 2000
from $14,271 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
21.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
21.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 20.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information14.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade4.9%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Manufacturing4.7%
US avg: 0.5%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$87,300
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$638
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $353 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
70.4%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.3% in 2000
29.6% rent
Afford Score
2.1
+3%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wise County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(38,681)
Black1.8%(708)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(292)
Asian0.3%(118)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.9%(2,759)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.2%(32,586)
Black4.9%(1,771)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(452)
Asian0.4%(150)
Other1.4%(497)
Diversity Score19.1%(6,885)
Segregation Score39.3%(14,204)
Diversity Score
19
+177%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
39
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.8%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
77.3%
+14.7 ptssince 2000
from 62.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+29%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
85.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 84.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
45.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 48.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
33.8%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Female
47.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.9%
−74.5 ptssince 2013
from 85.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wise County

Franklin County
Pop 32,449
Wayne County
Pop 32,481
Mississippi County
Pop 37,828
Covington County
Pop 37,947
Places similar to Wise County
Head to head

Compare Wise County to nearby counties

WISE COUNTY VS
Norton
Income$41,495+1%
Home value$110,000+26%
Population3,477−90%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WISE COUNTY VS
Letcher County
Income$41,793+1%
Home value$67,400−23%
Population19,952−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WISE COUNTY VS
Scott County
Income$46,349+12%
Home value$143,000+64%
Population21,200−39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WISE COUNTY VS
Dickenson County
Income$47,254+14%
Home value$102,700+18%
Population13,236−62%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wise County, Virginia?

Wise County, Virginia has about 36,130 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wise County, Virginia?

The typical household in Wise County, Virginia earns about $41,285 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wise County, Virginia expensive?

In Wise County, Virginia, the median home is worth about $87,300, and the typical rent is about $638 a month.

How educated are people in Wise County, Virginia?

About 14.8% of adults age 25 and over in Wise County, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wise County, Virginia?

About 21.1% of people in Wise County, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wise County, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Wise County, Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,443 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 9312Census Tract 9314Census Tract 9309Census Tract 9315Census Tract 9313Census Tract 9307Census Tract 9316Census Tract 9311Census Tract 9308Census Tract 9310Census Tract 9317
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 24219ZIP 24293ZIP 24230ZIP 24273ZIP 24279ZIP 24216ZIP 24283ZIP 24246
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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