Wise
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The Wise album
Outdoors in Wise
Parks & trails →Know a trail or park that’s missing? Anyone can add it to OpenStreetMap, and it shows up here on the next refresh.
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
About Wise
Town in Virginia, United StatesWise is a town in Wise County, Virginia. The population was 2,970 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Wise County. It was originally incorporated as the town of Gladeville in 1874. The town's name was changed to Wise in 1924, after Henry A. Wise, the last Virginia governor before the American Civil War and the first governor to hail from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The town is also the home of the University of Virginia's College at Wise.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
How Wise ranks
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Housing in Wise
The typical Wise home is worth about $185,000, up 1.3% in a year, 55% below the Virginia typical home.
Only 1 sale in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.
Safety in Wise
Safety Grade C+
Wise reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 56% report less.
Work & commute in Wise
Full picture →About one in 4 of Wise’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Norton (13%), Big Stone Gap (3%) and Pound (2%). Half commute less than 10 miles.
Health in Wise
Health Grade C
Healthier than 26% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 52% of towns with similar incomes.
Compared with Virginia
of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.
What stands out
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Natural hazards in Wise
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 9% of U.S. communities.
Climate in Wise
Full climate →Wise has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 47 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Schools in Wise
All Wise schools →School Grade A+
The public schools Wise’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 95% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within VA. Ratings are from neighbors.
Wise’s library
Library details →Famous people from Wise
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Where Wise is
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