Photo: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Wise is healthier than 50%
Wise trails Virginia on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wise. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wise
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Wise
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 6.2% across Virginia. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.8%), vs 6.1% across Virginia. Cancer is also above the state: 9.6%, vs 7.7% across Virginia. In all, Wise runs above Virginia on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Wise
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (26.5%), vs 21.8% across Virginia. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.9%, vs 15.9% across Virginia. Mind & connection ↓
Smoking is more common in Wise
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.1%), vs 12.2% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Wise is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Wise is healthier than 25%. Against the 6,992 towns with similar household incomes ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 50%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Virginia figure falls outside Wise’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Wise’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wise is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns, #214 of 253 in Virginia. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 39% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 20%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Wise’s median household income is $53,596; among the 6,992 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$67K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Wise adults…
Wise runs above VA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Wise adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Wise runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Wise adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
0.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Wise
No hospital or community health center in Wise itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Wise; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Wise adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.7% of Wise adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Wise and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | C | 40.2% | 13.5% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| The University of Virginia's College at Wise | — | — | — | — |
The University of Virginia's College at Wise: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Wise adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Wise
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Wise is better than Virginia on 0 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Virginia figure falls inside Wise’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Wise | VA | U.S. | vs VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.8%17.8–24.3 | 18.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.5–17.9 | 12.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.5–21.5 | 15.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.2%32.9–49.1 | 34.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.6–15.6 | 12.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 39%34.9–43.9 | 35.4% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.6–44.8 | 38% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.9%28.5–35.8 | 26.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.3%10–12.9 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.8–8.7 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%7.7–10.5 | 6.2% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.5–4.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14%11.5–17 | 11.1% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.4–19.2 | 12.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.8%23.1–33.2 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.4%11.8–17.8 | 14.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%27.7–39.9 | 36% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%6.8–11.1 | 8.7% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.3–82.4 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.5%59–65.9 | 67.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.5–87.8 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%74.6–80.4 | 76.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%63.5–72.6 | 67.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.7%62.9–78.2 | 78.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.5%22.8–30.9 | 21.8% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.7%30.4–41.2 | 33.8% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%17.1–23.9 | 21.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.3%10.7–16.3 | 13.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8.2–12 | 10.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.8%5.7–8 | 7.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.5–8.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.7%9.4–14.3 | 10.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.8%30.9–41 | 30% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.2–19.2 | 13.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%14.6–19.6 | 14% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.3–9.5 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.7–6.1 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8.3–11.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.6–4.8 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Virginia figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Wise
Is Wise a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Wise is healthier than 25% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #214 of 253 in Virginia. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Wise?
CDC estimates 40.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 49.1%, against 34.5% across Virginia and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Wise?
Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap, 11.9 miles in a straight line from Wise’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Wise have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.8–11.1%), against 8.7% across Virginia.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Wise more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Wise.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.