CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Lester

West Virginia · 482 residents · 0.50 sq mi

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The short version

Lester is a city of 482 people in West Virginia. Growth has run 50% since 2000, or 160 more people. The typical home is worth $26,600. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 7% of adults. 78% of homes are owner-occupied. The median age is 36.8, about 4 years above the US median.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 36.8

US median: 33.0

Less educated

7% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

482

+50%vs 2000

vs 322 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

36.8

−12%vs 2000

vs 41.8 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

0.50 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

2024377

Age distribution, 1990

Under 53.9%(19)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 94.8%(23)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 148.5%(41)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 1911%(53)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 247.9%(38)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3411%(53)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4416.6%(80)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5410.2%(49)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 647.1%(34)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 745.6%(27)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 848.9%(43)

US avg: 4%

85 and over4.6%(22)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$20,208

+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $24,375 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2023

Per capita income

$12,378

+12%vs 2000

vs $11,026 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

15.8%

+0.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 15.7% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$26,600

+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $33,100 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$267

−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $392 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

78.4%

−5.4 ptsvs 2000

vs 83.8% in 2000

21.6% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic79.8%(257)

Black19.9%(64)

Hispanic / Latino0%(0)

Asian0%(0)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic67.4%(325)

Black32.6%(157)

Hispanic / Latino0%(0)

Asian0%(0)

Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican0.5%(2)

Ancestry

English60.5%(228)

German9.3%(35)

Polish4.2%(16)

Dutch4%(15)

Irish3.7%(14)

American2.1%(8)

Italian0.3%(1)

RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Polish population · Largest Dutch population · Largest Irish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

6.8%

−0.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 7.1% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

51.6%

−5.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 57.1% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

4.9%

+3.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 1.2% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

23.2 min

+1%vs 2000

vs 23.0 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married38.1%(64)

Married54.8%(92)

Widowed2.4%(4)

Divorced4.8%(8)

Women 15+

Never married2.4%(3)

Married74.4%(93)

Widowed19.2%(24)

Divorced4%(5)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

5.0%

−6.9 ptssince 2013

from 11.9% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

61.8%

+2.3 ptssince 2020

from 59.5% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

40.6%

+23.0 ptssince 2020

from 17.6% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

31.6%

+9.9 ptssince 2020

from 21.7% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

41.1%

−1.3 ptssince 2020

from 42.4% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

6.1%

+2.7 ptssince 2020

from 3.4% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

63.7%

−1.9 ptssince 2020

from 65.6% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

72.7%

+9.6 ptssince 2020

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)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)0%(0)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era20%(2)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War0%(0)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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