Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Big Stone Gap, compared with Virginia and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.
Big Stone Gap town · Incorporated town · Census GEOID 5107480 · Virginia directory
- Population · July 1, 2025
- 5,102 PEP Vintage 2025
- Change · 2024 to 2025
- -0.6% -29 residents
- Household income
- $54,581 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$6,288
- Home value
- $163,000 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$8,606
- Monthly gross rent
- $797 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$92
- Median age
- 41.0 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±4.0
Big Stone Gap is an incorporated town in Wise County, Virginia. With 5,102 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 62nd in Virginia and 4,841st nationally among Census places. Its population fell by 29 (0.6%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has declined 3.3%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $797 a month, 49.5% below the Virginia median. Median household income is $54,581, 41.4% below the Virginia median.
Detailed demographics → Housing and cost-of-living context →
What stands out in Big Stone Gap?
Compared with other Virginia places, Big Stone Gap is most distinctive for slower population growth, fewer college graduates and a higher poverty rate. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.
- Population change since April 2020: -3.3%; lower than 87% of 223 Virginia places with reliable estimates.
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.8%, 26.3 percentage points below the Virginia rate (42.2%); lower than 85% of 170 Virginia places with reliable estimates.
- Poverty rate: 26.2%, 16.3 percentage points above the Virginia rate (9.9%); higher than 84% of 118 Virginia places with reliable estimates.
- Change in local jobs since 2019: -8.7%; lower than 80% of 163 Virginia places with reliable estimates.
- Median gross rent: $797, 49.5% below the Virginia median ($1,579); lower than 76% of 194 Virginia places with reliable estimates.
How Big Stone Gap compares with Virginia and the U.S.
| Measure | Big Stone Gap | Virginia | U.S. | Position in Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 | -3.3% | — | — | lower than 87% of 223 Virginia places |
| Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 | 1,063 | — | — | higher than 63% of 227 Virginia places |
| Median household income B19013 | $54,581 ±$6,288 | $93,170 | $80,734 | lower than 64% of 192 Virginia places |
| Median home value B25077 | $163,000 ±$8,606 | $383,700 | $332,700 | lower than 68% of 211 Virginia places |
| Median real estate taxes paid B25103 | $1,013 ±$317 | $2,790 | $3,119 | lower than 60% of 211 Virginia places |
| Median gross rent B25064 | $797 ±$92 | $1,579 | $1,413 | lower than 76% of 194 Virginia places |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 | 31.6% ±17.6 pp · low precision | 48.5% | 51.1% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Homeownership rate B25003 | 63.3% ±12.4 pp | 67.3% | 65.2% | lower than 50% of 223 Virginia places |
| Median age B01002 | 41.0 years ±4.0 | 39.0 years | 38.9 years | higher than 52% of 219 Virginia places |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 | 15.8% ±5.7 pp | 42.2% | 35.7% | lower than 85% of 170 Virginia places |
| Poverty rate B17001 | 26.2% ±12.3 pp | 9.9% | 12.5% | higher than 84% of 118 Virginia places |
| People without health insurance B27010 | 4.6% ±3.1 pp · low precision | 6.9% | 8.4% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Households with a broadband subscription B28002 | 85.8% ±4.8 pp | 91.0% | 91.0% | lower than 57% of 217 Virginia places |
| Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 | 7.0% ±9.3 pp · low precision | 4.3% | 5.2% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Foreign-born residents B05002 | 1.5% ±1.3 pp · low precision | 13.1% | 14.1% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP | 48.7 | — | — | lower than 61% of 162 Virginia places |
| Change in local jobs since 2019 LODES 8.4 | -8.7% | — | — | lower than 80% of 163 Virginia places |
| Workers who work from home B08301 | 5.8% ±3.4 pp · low precision | 18.3% | 15.1% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 | 12.8% ±13.4 pp · low precision | 17.6% | 16.5% | Not ranked: low precision |
| Households without a vehicle B08201 | 15.7% ±8.9 pp · low precision | 6.1% | 8.4% | Not ranked: low precision |
Positions compare Big Stone Gap with Virginia places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 7 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably.
How many people live in Big Stone Gap?
The latest official estimate is 5,102 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 4,841st by population nationally and 62nd in Virginia among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 29 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.
| Reference date | Population | Change from previous estimate |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2020 | 5,268 | Separate from April 2020 base |
| July 1, 2021 | 5,220 | -48 |
| July 1, 2022 | 5,172 | -48 |
| July 1, 2023 | 5,154 | -18 |
| July 1, 2024 | 5,131 | -23 |
| July 1, 2025 | 5,102 | -29 |
From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is −174 residents (-3.3%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.
Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release
Where are the boundaries?
- Entity and stable identifier
- Big Stone Gap town, Virginia · Incorporated town · 5107480
- Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
- Wise County
- Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
- No county-to-CBSA association is listed in the retained July 2023 delineations for these county codes. County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
- Land area
- 4.8 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Water area
- 0.1 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
- Approximate population density
- 1,063 residents per square mile of land
- Internal point
- 36.86274°, -82.776089° · Census geographic reference point
Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .
Income and poverty
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income Households · USD/year | $54,581 ±$6,288 | $93,170 ±$458 | $80,734 ±$166 |
| Per-capita income Total population · USD/year | $21,181 ±$3,185 | $50,666 ±$254 | $44,673 ±$122 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty level | 981 ±459 | 26.2% ±12.3 pp |
Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 26.2% (±12.3 percentage points) under the official Census definition.
Home values, rent and tenure
| Measure / survey universe | City estimate ± MOE | State estimate ± MOE | U.S. estimate ± MOE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD | $163,000 ±$8,606 | $383,700 ±$1,024 | $332,700 ±$236 |
| Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month | $797 ±$92 | $1,579 ±$8 | $1,413 ±$2 |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner occupied | 989 ±228 | 63.3% ±12.4 pp |
| Renter occupied | 573 ±187 | 36.7% ±11.1 pp |
Owner-occupied units make up 63.3% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 3.0 times the median household income.
See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .
Monthly rent by bedroom count
| Bedrooms | Monthly gross rent | 90% margin of error | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| 1 bedroom | $491 | ±$104 | Estimate with MOE |
| 2 bedrooms | $736 | ±$140 | Estimate with MOE |
| 3 bedrooms | $909 | ±$69 | Estimate with MOE |
| 4 bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| 5 or more bedrooms | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .
Employment among residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force | 1,533 ±225 | 36.8% ±5.1 pp |
| Not in the labor force | 2,633 ±303 | 63.2% ±6.6 pp |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian employed | 1,426 ±255 | 93.0% ±9.5 pp |
| Civilian unemployed | 107 ±143 · low precision | 7.0% ±9.3 pp · low precision |
These estimates describe residents of Big Stone Gap wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Big Stone Gap. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.
Which industries employ residents?
Education, health care and social assistance is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 37.2% (531 people; ±13.9 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining | 86 ±108 · low precision | 6.0% ±7.5 pp · low precision |
| Construction | 0 ±27 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision |
| Manufacturing | 45 ±64 · low precision | 3.2% ±4.4 pp · low precision |
| Wholesale trade | 0 ±27 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision |
| Retail trade | 218 ±132 · low precision | 15.3% ±8.9 pp · low precision |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 66 ±71 · low precision | 4.6% ±4.9 pp · low precision |
| Information | 0 ±27 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 118 ±72 · low precision | 8.3% ±4.8 pp · low precision |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services | 46 ±46 · low precision | 3.2% ±3.2 pp · low precision |
| Education, health care and social assistance | 531 ±220 | 37.2% ±13.9 pp |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services | 295 ±190 · low precision | 20.7% ±12.8 pp · low precision |
| Other services, except public administration | 21 ±29 · low precision | 1.5% ±2.0 pp · low precision |
| Public administration | 0 ±27 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision |
Occupations among employed residents
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management, business, science and arts | 623 ±231 | 43.7% ±14.2 pp |
| Service occupations | 306 ±180 · low precision | 21.5% ±12.0 pp · low precision |
| Sales and office | 289 ±133 | 20.3% ±8.6 pp |
| Natural resources, construction and maintenance | 96 ±112 · low precision | 6.7% ±7.7 pp · low precision |
| Production, transportation and material moving | 112 ±94 · low precision | 7.9% ±6.4 pp · low precision |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Management occupations | 214 ±150 · low precision | 15.0% ±10.2 pp · low precision |
| Computer and mathematical occupations | 0 ±27 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.9 pp · low precision |
| Educational instruction and library occupations | 112 ±93 · low precision | 7.9% ±6.4 pp · low precision |
| Health practitioners and technical occupations | 146 ±122 · low precision | 10.2% ±8.3 pp · low precision |
| Sales and related occupations | 127 ±119 · low precision | 8.9% ±8.2 pp · low precision |
| Transportation occupations | 48 ±68 · low precision | 3.4% ±4.7 pp · low precision |
The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.
How residents get to work
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 1,072 ±237 | 75.3% ±9.6 pp |
| Carpooled | 142 ±126 · low precision | 10.0% ±8.7 pp · low precision |
| Public transportation | 0 ±19 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.3 pp · low precision |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | 0 ±19 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.3 pp · low precision |
| Motorcycle | 0 ±19 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.3 pp · low precision |
| Bicycle | 0 ±19 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.3 pp · low precision |
| Walked | 127 ±173 · low precision | 8.9% ±12.1 pp · low precision |
| Other means | 0 ±19 · low precision | 0.0% ±1.3 pp · low precision |
| Worked from home | 82 ±51 · low precision | 5.8% ±3.4 pp · low precision |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 minutes | 594 ±216 | 44.3% ±13.6 pp |
| 15–29 minutes | 545 ±243 | 40.6% ±16.3 pp |
| 30–44 minutes | 30 ±44 · low precision | 2.2% ±3.3 pp · low precision |
| 45–59 minutes | 141 ±175 · low precision | 10.5% ±12.9 pp · low precision |
| 60 minutes or longer | 31 ±53 · low precision | 2.3% ±4.0 pp · low precision |
| Category | Count ± MOE | Share ± MOE (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| No vehicle available | 245 ±142 · low precision | 15.7% ±8.9 pp · low precision |
Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.
Households and residents
Median age is 41.0 years (±4.0). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Virginia and the U.S.
How many jobs are located in Big Stone Gap?
Employers in Big Stone Gap reported 2,509 jobs in 2023, -8.7% compared with 2019 (2,748 jobs). That is 48.7 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.
| Industry | Jobs | Share of local jobs | Virginia share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 709 | 28.3% | 13.6% |
| Public administration | 701 | 27.9% | 4.3% |
| Retail trade | 296 | 11.8% | 10.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 254 | 10.1% | 8.6% |
| Educational services | 202 | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 73 | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 55 | 2.2% | 3.7% |
| Other services, except public administration | 50 | 2.0% | 3.6% |
| Construction | 38 | 1.5% | 5.7% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 33 | 1.3% | 12.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 28 | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 27 | 1.1% | 1.9% |
| Administrative, support and waste management services | 16 | 0.6% | 6.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 0.5% | 4.0% |
| Information | 7 | 0.3% | 2.0% |
| Utilities | 5 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Manufacturing | 2 | 0.1% | 6.3% |
| Group | Jobs | Share | Virginia share |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,250 a month or less | 473 | 18.9% | 16.5% |
| $1,251 to $3,333 a month | 1,051 | 41.9% | 25.8% |
| More than $3,333 a month | 985 | 39.3% | 57.8% |
| Age 29 or younger | 594 | 23.7% | 22.0% |
| Age 30 to 54 | 1,317 | 52.5% | 53.0% |
| Age 55 or older | 598 | 23.8% | 25.0% |
Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Big Stone Gap (28.3% of local jobs, compared with 13.6% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.
Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.
Nearby station climate normals
BIG STONE GAP, VA (NOAA station USC00440735) is approximately 2.2 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.
| Month | Average daily high (°F) | Average daily low (°F) | Precipitation (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43.9 | 23.9 | 4.87 |
| February | 48.1 | 26.4 | 4.95 |
| March | 56.9 | 32.6 | 5.38 |
| April | 67.3 | 40.8 | 5.03 |
| May | 74.8 | 50.6 | 5.08 |
| June | 81.4 | 59.0 | 4.59 |
| July | 83.8 | 63.2 | 5.49 |
| August | 83.4 | 61.9 | 4.49 |
| September | 78.8 | 55.5 | 3.80 |
| October | 68.7 | 42.6 | 3.14 |
| November | 57.2 | 32.4 | 3.66 |
| December | 47.5 | 27.2 | 5.53 |
Station location: 36.8567°, -82.7997°; elevation 446.8 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .
Check a specific address before moving
City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
- NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
- FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
- Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.
Sources and data notes
Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.
Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.