Big Stone Gap: Economy & Jobs
$54,581 is the median household income in Big Stone Gap (about the same as Wise County median $52,943; 1.7× below Virginia median $93,170), with homes at a median value of $163,000. The surrounding county supports 10,969 jobs (avg $46,985).
- $53,796 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Virginia $92,983).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $54,581 — below the Virginia median ($92,968). Poverty rate 26.2% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 21% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.0× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 18.1% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 21.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 26.2% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.9% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $13,300 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $715,487 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $53,796 (vs Virginia $92,983) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $58,182 |
| Median Household Income | $54,581 (vs Virginia $92,968) |
| Poverty Rate | 26.2% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $54,581 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.6% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 6% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 5.8% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 10,969 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $515,362,249 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $46,985 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 3,981,130 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% (vs Virginia 2.9%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 9 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 10,991 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 1,221.20 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Field Crops, Other, Animal Totals, Cattle, Fruit & Tree Nut Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 598 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 7,678 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 274,075 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 8 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 27 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 13 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Florists | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Funeral Homes | 7 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 20 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 32 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (2)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Food City 891 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 13 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | WISE COUNTY VIRGINIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $325,714,953 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 9,015.08 (vs Virginia $14,580) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 36,130 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 75.3% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 8.9% |
| Pct Walked | 5.8% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 41.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 38.5% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12