With 10,902 people, Cheat Lake is a city in West Virginia. Households here earn about 96% more than in West Virginia as a whole. 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 4,506 people. Owners hold 83% of the housing stock. Few US cities rank higher on income.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $117,014, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
More educated
62% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Cheat Lake
What changed most since 1990
Population3,992 → 10,902(+173%)US over the same years: +35%
Adults with a bachelor's degree28.1% → 61.8%(+33.6 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
White share99.5% → 88.8%(−10.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Cheat Lake's population equals 10% of Monongalia County's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 3.4% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 4.4% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)30.2%(93)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.8%(61)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era27.6%(85)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.6%(11)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 308 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Cheat Lake, decade by decade
Cheat Lake population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
3,992
$85,766
$211,686
28.1%
1.2
2000
6,396
$88,522
$253,210
41.0%
11.7
2010
7,988
$114,247
$364,390
46.8%
15.7
2020
9,930
$115,689
$357,309
54.9%
28.2
2024
10,902
$117,014
$367,600
61.8%
26.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
