The Town FilesWise, Virginia
Town in Wise County · population 2,971 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,700
- Household income
- $53,596
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 36.5
Wise is a town of 2,971 people in Wise County, Virginia. The median home is worth $144,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050).
How Wise ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wise is worth $144,700, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $53,596, which is more affordable than 87% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wise | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,700 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $825 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $53,596 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wise
| People | Wise | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Wise
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.1 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wise since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 8, 2009 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2008.
Severe weather in Wise County since 1996
Wise County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Wise County
Wise County had 10,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,985 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Wise itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Wise
5 public schools with 1,025 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Primary | PK-4 | 616 | 14.0 |
| L.F. Addington Middle | 5-8 | 409 | 11.4 |
| Wise Co. Alternative Ed. Ctr. | Other | — | — |
| Wise County Career-Technical Center | Other | — | — |
| Regional Learning Academy/Wise Co | Other | — | — |
Towns near Wise
- Norton, VA4.0 mi · 3,687 people · home $110,000
- Big Stone Gap, VA13.3 mi · 5,254 people · home $163,000
- Bloomingdale, TN27.6 mi · 8,918 people · home $165,500
- Lebanon, VA28.3 mi · 3,159 people · home $162,400
- Mount Carmel, TN28.9 mi · 5,473 people · home $179,600
Wise questions
Is Wise, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wise scores better for retirees than 51% of Virginia towns and quieter than 56%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Wise?
The median owner-occupied home in Wise is valued at $144,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,596, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Wise?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 47.1 inches of snow.
Does Wise get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wise since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 8, 2009. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)