Wise County Health Data

Wise County, Virginia

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

33/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

70.8 yr

Uninsured Rate

8.3%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

70.8 yr

State avg 75.1 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

8.3%

State avg 7.9%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

22

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

151

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

22.2%

State avg 18.6%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

106.4

per 100K residentsCDC: 22.4 per 100K

Dentists

11.2

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

44.8

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Wise County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureWiseState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity43.5%37.9%37.6%5.6 pts worse than state
Diabetes12.7%11.7%11.2%1.0 pts worse than state
High Blood Pressure37.4%34.3%33.5%3.1 pts worse than state
Depression27.2%24.3%24.1%2.9 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureWiseState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking19.9%15.3%16.3%4.6 pts worse than state
Binge Drinking15.7%15.8%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity30.2%25.8%27.0%4.4 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureWiseState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup76.0%77.2%74.9%1.2 pts worse than state
Dental Visit (past year)57.3%63.2%57.3%5.9 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)71.5%76.2%73.3%4.7 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureWiseState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress21.1%18.5%18.6%2.6 pts worse than state
Short Sleep Duration36.8%38.1%37.3%1.3 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Wise County nationally on dental visit (past year).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Wise County Reports Higher Rates of Fair and Poor Health

Health data brief for Wise County, Virginia.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Poor/fair health rate

In Wise County, 22.2% of adults report being in poor or fair health, a rate higher than the national average of 17%. The county's life expectancy is 70.8 years, which is over four years shorter than the Virginia state average of 75.1 years and significantly lower than the national average of 77 years. Regarding health coverage, 8.3% of residents are uninsured, which is higher than the state average of 7.9% but lower than the national average of 10%. The county has 22 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 151 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, both of which are below national medians of 70 and 250, respectively. These metrics are part of the latest standardized reporting for health outcomes across Virginia. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Wise County, Virginia

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Lonesome Pine Hospital

ER
4/5
(276) 523-3111
1990 Holton Avenue East, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Wise County, VA?
Wise County has a health score of 33/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #117 out of 133 counties in Virginia (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Wise County?
Life expectancy in Wise County is 70.8 years. The Virginia state average is 75.1 years, making Wise County below the state average.
How does Wise County health compare to the Virginia average?
Wise County's health score of 33/100 is below the Virginia average of 56/100. Life expectancy is 70.8 years vs. the state average of 75.1 years. The uninsured rate is 8.3% vs. 7.9% statewide.
What health factors affect Wise County?
Key health factors for Wise County include: life expectancy (70.8 years), uninsured rate (8.3%), and primary care physician access (22:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 151:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Wise County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 33/100 ("Below Average"), Wise County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Virginia. Residents have a life expectancy of 70.8 years. 8.3% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
What are the biggest health challenges in Wise County?
Wise County's health score of 33/100 is below the Virginia average of 56/100. Improving health outcomes often requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, insurance coverage expansion, and community health programs.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.