Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Appalachia’s best subject grades are an A+ for schools, an A for cost of living, and an A− for history; its weakest is a D− for health. 28% of residents live below the poverty line in Appalachia, above both Virginia’s towns (7.7%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 1 of Virginia’s 372 towns score lower on hazard risk. The median household income is $43K, and 28% of residents live below the poverty line. 24% of the land in Appalachia is conserved, against 4.7% in Virginia’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Kelly View School and Appalachia Commercial Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Appalachia has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Appalachia beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
| Widest gap | Appalachia | VA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 27.3% | 11.1% |
1,754 counted in 2010 and 1,432 in 2020; an estimated 1,369 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Virginia), ordered by how far Appalachia is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,090 in 1910, a peak of 3,595 in 1930, 1,432 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1935 and 6 maps from 1922 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Appalachia, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Appalachia.
The typical Appalachia home is worth about $57,000, down 3.4% in a year, 86% below the Virginia typical home. Appalachia’s median rent is $766 a month.
| Appalachia | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $766 a month | $1,762 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 68% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
31% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Appalachia. Of the 254 Virginia towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Appalachia. 23% of adults report frequent mental distress in Appalachia.
| Appalachia | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 17% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 12% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 34% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | Appalachia | VA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 27.3% | 11.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.3% | 6.2% |
| More smokers | 25.4% | 12.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The FEMA risk score in Appalachia is 89 of 100. Since 1980, 9 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Appalachia.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Most working residents leave Appalachia for work: only 4% work in town. Since 2013, Appalachia has lost 142 jobs, to 107 in 2023. Among 254 Virginia towns, just 8 have a lower median household income than Appalachia.
| Appalachia | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,000 | $102,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 12% | 17% | 11% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Island Park | 0.1 mi | 3 |
| 2. Washington Rock Recreation Area | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Appalachia has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Among 254 Virginia towns, just 6 have a lower July high than Appalachia.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
3 within 15 miles of the center of Appalachia
About 1 of every 100 Appalachia residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Town in Virginia, United States
Appalachia () is a town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Appalachia had a population of 1,432.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
2 notable people were born here, including Peggie Castle and Paul Davis.