What are the schools like in Wise, VA?

Wise is served primarily by Wise County Public Schools. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Wise?

The median household income in Wise, VA is $42,944 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Wise, VA?

Wise has an average high temperature of 42.6°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 47.1 inches.

Wise, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wise, VA affordable or expensive?

Wise's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wise is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $116,700 and the median rent is $689 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wise, VA?

Wise has a violent crime rate of 69.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2306.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wise, VA a Good Place to Live?

Wise is a small town of 2,962 in Virginia, with a median household income of $42,944 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Wise stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Wise is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wise city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.7

Wise's overall cost of living index is 89.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wise costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wise, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$116,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$689	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$42,944	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Wise's violent crime rate is 69.9 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

69.9 /100k

Property Crime

2306.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wise is served primarily by Wise County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wise, VA	National Avg
School District	Wise County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wise sees average highs of 42.6°F in January and 80.6°F in July, with 51.6 inches of annual precipitation and 47.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wise, VA
Average High — January	42.6°F
Average High — July	80.6°F
Annual Precipitation	51.6"
Annual Snowfall	47.1"

Demographics

Metric	Wise, VA	National Avg
Population	2,962	—
Median Age	41.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.9%	6.3%
Under 18	16.5%	22.2%
65 and over	16.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

The University of Virginia's College at Wise, VA 1 mi Norton, VA 4 mi Tacoma, VA 4 mi Riverview, VA 6 mi Coeburn, VA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Wise

Wise, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

24293

Wise vs Other Cities

Wise, VA vs The University of Virginia's College at Wise, VA Wise, VA vs Norton, VA Wise, VA vs Tacoma, VA Wise, VA vs Riverview, VA Wise, VA vs Coeburn, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wise, VA affordable or expensive?

Wise's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wise roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $116,700 and median rent is $689/month.

What is the crime rate in Wise, VA?

Wise's violent crime rate is 69.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2306.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wise?

Public schools in Wise are operated by Wise County Public Schools. The district has 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 28.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wise, VA a good place to live?

Wise, VA has a population of 2,962, a median household income of $42,944, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wise?

Wise averages 42.6°F in January and 80.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.6 inches with about 47.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wise?

Wise, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24293.

What is the population of Wise?

The population of Wise, Virginia is 2,962 with a median age of 41.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wise?

Key numbers for living in Wise: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $116,700, median household income $42,944, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wise side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.