Local costs · Virginia

What it costs to own a home in Wise County, Virginia

The real property-tax rate, risk-adjusted insurance, and honest closing costs for Wise County — with the all-in monthly cost of the area’s median-priced home and the income it takes to carry it comfortably.

The headline numbers

Property tax rate0.58%of home value per year · below the Virginia average 0.65% · national 0.92%
US Census, ACS 2024 5-year
Home insurance$1,170/yrrange $760–$1,700 at the Virginia median home value · county risk-adjusted
Closing costs$6,800–$11,000buyer’s estimate on the $403,500 median home
All-in monthly$2,931/momedian home, 20% down, 6.43% 30-yr rate (as of 2026-07-02)
A household income of about $166,692 makes the $403,500 median home here comfortable by our math — housing under about 28% of take-home pay with room left over for everyday spending. How we compute this.

Run these numbers with your income →

The “median home” here is the Virginia statewide median owner-occupied value ($403,500, US Census ACS 2024 1-year) — no county-level median is available in our data, so it is labeled as a state figure. The all-in monthly uses the real-life basis: loan payment $2,025, property tax $196, insurance $98, maintenance $336 (1%/yr rule of thumb), and utilities $275 (a placeholder, not yet sourced). With 20% down there is no mortgage insurance.

Local risk flags

No natural-hazard flags for Wise County in the FEMA National Risk Index — no covered peril rates Relatively High or Very High here. That does not mean zero risk; check the specific address’s flood zone before you buy.

Closing costs, in detail

Total transfer/recording tax $1,412: buyer's customary share $1,009, seller's customary share $404. Virginia recordation tax: $1,009 (buyer-paid); Virginia grantor tax: $404 (seller-paid). Northern Virginia localities add ~0.2% (regional congestion relief + WMATA fees, seller-paid).

Transfer & recording tax
On the $403,500 median home, the buyer’s customary share is about $1,009, with roughly $404 customarily paid by the seller. Only the buyer’s share is counted in the closing-cost estimate above.
Title insurance & settlement
Virginia uses competitive (filed) rates. Estimated $2,122–$2,870 on this home. Modeled title insurance + settlement (national declining-rate curve, ~0.62% of price at this level). Not a state-promulgated rate.
Lender and origination
$1,614–$3,228. Modeled as 0.5-1.0% of loan amount.
Appraisal, inspection, and reports
$900–$1,800. Flat buyer-paid diligence estimate.
Prepaids and escrow
$1,078–$1,666. Initial escrow deposit for taxes and insurance.

Frequently asked

What is the property tax rate in Wise County, VA?
The effective property tax rate in Wise County is 0.58% of home value per year (US Census, ACS 2024 5-year). That is lower than the Virginia average of 0.65% and lower than the national average of 0.92%.
How much is homeowners insurance in Wise County?
A typical homeowners policy runs about $1,170 per year (range $760–$1,700) at the Virginia median home value of $403,500. This is a county-adjusted estimate scaled from the NAIC state average; a real quote depends on the home and coverage.
What are typical closing costs on a $403,500 home in Wise County?
Estimated buyer closing costs run about $6,823–$10,972 on a $403,500 home — lender fees, title and settlement, the buyer's customary share of transfer and recording taxes, and prepaid taxes and insurance.
What income do you need to afford the median home in Wise County?
A household income of about $166,692 per year makes the $403,500 median home here comfortable by our math — housing under about 28% of take-home pay with room left for everyday spending, assuming 20% down at this week's 6.43% 30-year rate.
What is the all-in monthly cost of the median home in Wise County?
About $2,931 per month for the $403,500 median home with 20% down at 6.43% — the loan payment, property tax, home insurance, maintenance, and an estimated utilities figure.

Run your own numbers

These figures use the area median and a 20%-down example. Put in your own price, down payment, income, and debts to see whether it’s comfortable for you.

Open the calculator for Wise County

More counties in Virginia

Accomack CountyAlbemarle CountyAlexandria cityAlleghany CountyAmelia CountyAmherst CountyAppomattox CountyArlington CountyAll 133 counties →

Sources & vintages

  • Property tax: US Census American Community Survey, county effective rate (ACS 2024 5-year).
  • Home insurance: NAIC state average premium (2022 · FEMA NRI December 2025), scaled by FEMA National Risk Index covered-peril risk; range modeled.
  • Median home value: US Census, Virginia statewide median owner-occupied value (ACS 2024 1-year) — used as a state-level stand-in for a county median.
  • Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac 30-year fixed weekly average via FRED, as of 2026-07-02.
  • Transfer taxes & title: researched state/local schedules; utilities and the household baseline are labeled placeholders.

Estimates, not advice, and not a Loan Estimate. Every number is computed from public data or our own math — see the methodology for how, and where the honest gaps are.