CensusEasy
CITY

Despard

West Virginia · 972 residents · 1.47 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

With 972 people, Despard is a city in West Virginia. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. Households here earn about 59% less than in West Virginia as a whole. On income it ranks near the bottom among US cities. The typical home is worth $86,500, having roughly tripled since 2000. Households take in $24,455 at the median, 70% less than the US figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

972
−6%since 2000
from 1,039 in 2000
1990 – 2024
663 / sq mi
+11%since 2009
from 599 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
33.6
−6%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1.47 sq mi
Population, 19902024
7179471K1K2K19902000201020202024Despard
2024972
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 58.1%(79)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(46)
US avg: 6%
10 to 142.9%(28)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1910.7%(104)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249%(87)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.4%(159)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 445.8%(56)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.9%(145)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.1%(108)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.9%(106)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.8%(37)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(17)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$24,455
−32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,740 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
$18,433
+93%since 2000
from $9,562 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
15.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
26.1%
−9.6 ptssince 2000
from 35.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
0.403
+34%since 2010
from 0.301 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade21.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade16.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Information6.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services2.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$86,500
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
$654
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $372 in 2000
US average: $1,442
53.6%
−23.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
46.4% rent
3.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.01 people
−13%since 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
31.7%
+23.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
86.2%
+33.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
3.5
+107%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
46
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(1,004)
Black2.3%(24)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(3)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(946)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.7%(26)
7
from 0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Ancestry
Irish30.8%(299)
English24.7%(240)
German10%(97)
Italian9.5%(92)
Welsh4.6%(45)
American3.7%(36)
Greek3.4%(33)
Arab0.9%(9)
Lebanese0.9%(9)
Dutch0.8%(8)
Polish0.7%(7)
French0.5%(5)
+ 1 more ancestry group with data
Slovak0.4%(4)
Section 05

Education

10.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.0%
+15.3 ptssince 2000
from 66.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
0.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 1.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

17.3 min
+52%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
59.0%
−35.4 ptssince 2009
from 94.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
3.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
2.3%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
34.8%
+32.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
44.9%
+22.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

22.0%
+11.1 ptssince 2011
from 10.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
51.2%
+25.9 ptssince 2011
from 25.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
42.6%
+4.2 ptssince 2020
from 38.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
0.0%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
43.3%
+32.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

53.9%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 42.3% in 2009
46.1%
−11.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.7% in 2009
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
11.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
13.8%
−13.3 ptssince 2012
from 27.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
25.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2013
from 24.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
80.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2017
from 79.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
81.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 82.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
90.1%
+13.7 ptssince 2020
from 76.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
100.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2016
from 94.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
0.0%
−5.2 ptssince 2016
from 5.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married58.9%(251)
Married28.6%(122)
Widowed7.7%(33)
Divorced4.7%(20)
Women 15+
Never married33.8%(133)
Married34.9%(137)
Widowed16.5%(65)
Divorced14.8%(58)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

25.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2013
from 24.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
24.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2020
from 25.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
8.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
17.6%
−10.4 ptssince 2020
from 28.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
35.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2020
from 42.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2020
from 7.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
38.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 35.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
50.1%
−22.9 ptssince 2020
from 73.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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)22.9%(19)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)16.9%(14)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.8%(33)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 83 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Despard

Head to head

Compare Despard to nearby cities

Frequently asked

How many people live in Despard, West Virginia?

Despard, West Virginia has about 972 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Despard, West Virginia?

The typical household in Despard, West Virginia earns about $24,455 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Despard, West Virginia expensive?

In Despard, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $86,500, and the typical rent is about $654 a month.

How educated are people in Despard, West Virginia?

About 10.5% of adults age 25 and over in Despard, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Despard, West Virginia?

About 26.1% of people in Despard, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Despard, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Despard, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 70 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Despard, West Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy