Big Stone Gap, VA
Census place 5107480 · pop 5,162
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
44.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
26.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
18.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
15.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
85.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-1.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$54,581 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
30.4% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
11.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
63.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.6% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.62% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$163,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
43/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.35 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
Not measured for Big Stone Gap: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Big Stone Gap, VA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Big Stone Gap scores 43/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 17 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is income inequality and its weakest is adult obesity. Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Big Stone Gap, VA expensive to live in?
- Big Stone Gap has a median home value of $163,000 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Big Stone Gap, VA?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (44.2%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Big Stone Gap, VA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is income inequality (0.35) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.