The Town FilesBig Stone Gap, Virginia
Town in Wise County · population 5,254 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,000
- Household income
- $54,581
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 41.0
Big Stone Gap is a town of 5,254 people in Wise County, Virginia. The median home is worth $163,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 79% of Virginia towns.
How Big Stone Gap ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Big Stone Gap is worth $163,000, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $54,581, which is more affordable than 81% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $797 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Stone Gap | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,000 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $797 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $54,581 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Big Stone Gap
| People | Big Stone Gap | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 91.8% |
Weather in Big Stone Gap
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 56.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.2 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Stone Gap since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on March 4, 2008 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Wise County since 1996
Wise County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Wise County
Wise County had 10,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,985 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Big Stone Gap itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Big Stone Gap
3 public schools with 1,966 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Primary | PK-4 | 830 | 13.4 |
| Union Middle | 5-8 | 569 | 12.4 |
| Union High | 9-12 | 567 | 15.3 |
Towns near Big Stone Gap
- Norton, VA9.6 mi · 3,687 people · home $110,000
- Wise, VA13.3 mi · 2,971 people · home $144,700
- Mount Carmel, TN21.4 mi · 5,473 people · home $179,600
- Church Hill, TN24.0 mi · 6,998 people · home $211,000
- Bloomingdale, TN24.5 mi · 8,918 people · home $165,500
- Kingsport, TN27.0 mi · 55,442 people · home $234,100
- Colonial Heights, TN30.0 mi · 3,055 people · home $217,100
Big Stone Gap questions
Is Big Stone Gap, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Stone Gap scores better for retirees than 43% of Virginia towns and quieter than 62%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Big Stone Gap?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Stone Gap is valued at $163,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,581, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $797 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Stone Gap?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.0 inches of precipitation a year and 9.2 inches of snow.
Does Big Stone Gap get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Stone Gap since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on March 4, 2008. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)