Wise: Demographics & People
Wise is home to 2,916 people, in 1,298 households. Population shrank 0.8% from 2,940 (2022) to 2,916 (2024). Median age 36.5 years. (5.3y younger than Wise County; 1.3y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 95% White (non-Hispanic) and 1% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.03). 59% of households are family-led. County is gaining 237 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 41% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 64 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.8% from 2,940 (2022) to 2,916 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,892 (extrapolated at -0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,860.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 36,130 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.8% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,940 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,916 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 2,916 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 2,860 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 36.5y is 2.4 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 36.5 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,916 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 621 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 781.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,000.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 514 |
| Population under 18 | 621 |
| Median age | 36.5 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,916 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.03 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 2,783 |
|---|---|
| Asian residents | 13 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 27 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 2.8% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 98.6% |
| Asian population | 0.3% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.3% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 95.4% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 2.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,905 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 799 |
| Share born in this state | 65.3% |
| Share born in another state | 34.7% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 27.4% |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 202 |
| From Africa | 84 |
| From Latin America | 29 |
Households & Family Composition
1,298 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 59% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 737 families, 17% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 702 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 737 |
| Married couples with children | 128 |
| Single-parent households | 91 |
| Average household size | 2.28 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 187 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 97 |
| Family households | 763 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 58.8% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,298 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 18.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 237 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 18.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 27,380 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 27,143 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 237 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 491 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 16.6% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 31 residents live in group quarters (1.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 31 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51195 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 195 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Wise |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 34.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 29.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 40.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51195 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Wise County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,269 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51195 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Wise County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 61.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 50.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 35.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 37,383 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.70 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 4 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,916, stable, family-oriented, middle-class, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,916 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Wise County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade