United States › West Virginia › Lester CITY
Lester West Virginia · 331 residents (2025 est.) · 0.50 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 377 people, Lester is a city in West Virginia. At a median age of 56.0, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 41.4% of locals live below the federal poverty line. The average commute runs 54 minutes. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $89,400.
At a glance
Older
median age 56.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 322 in 2000
331 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
752 / sq mi
+23%since 2009
from 611 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 41.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
273 373 473 572 672 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lester Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy from $11,026 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.358 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 45.2%
Transportation & warehousing 9.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.6%
Education & health services 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$89,400
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$850
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $392 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 83.8% in 2000
25.7% rent
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.55 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 79.8%(257)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 88.1%(332)
from 28 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 57.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 1.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 23.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 95.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 0.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 36.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 44.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 30.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 80.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 96.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 59.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 42.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 63.1% 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) 80%(8)
Share of the 10 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Lester, West Virginia? Lester, West Virginia has about 377 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
Is Lester, West Virginia expensive? In Lester, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $89,400, and the typical rent is about $850 a month.
How educated are people in Lester, West Virginia? About 11.2% of adults age 25 and over in Lester, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lester, West Virginia? About 41.4% of people in Lester, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lester, West Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Lester, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 105 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.
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