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CITY · 2020 ACS

Terra Alta

West Virginia · 1,415 residents · 1.19 sq mi
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The short version

Terra Alta is home to 1,415 people in West Virginia. 5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. The poverty rate is 28.4%, above the 12.8% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $68,500. The foreign-born share is 0%. Households take in $40,774 at the median, 38% less than the US figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
5% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

1,415
−3%since 2000
from 1,456 in 2000
1990 – 2025
38.6
+1%since 2000
from 38.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1.19 sq mi
Population, 19902024
1K2K2K2K2K19902000201020202024Terra Alta
20242K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.4%(90)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.4%(105)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.7%(95)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.5%(78)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.2%(88)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.2%(173)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.7%(180)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.4%(189)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412.6%(178)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411%(155)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.5%(64)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.4%(20)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$40,774
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,388 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$18,017
+50%since 2000
from $12,040 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.4%
+12.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
28.4%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 18.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade10.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Information7.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Retail trade5.1%
US avg: 10%
Manufacturing4.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services3.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2.7%
US avg: 2%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$68,500
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$699
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $335 in 2000
US average: $1,124
66.7%
−6.8 ptssince 2000
from 73.5% in 2000
33.3% rent
2.80 people
+7%since 2009
from 2.62 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
1.7
−13%since 2009
from 1.9 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.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.8%(1,439)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(5)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic94.8%(1,341)
Black0.4%(5)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(20)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other13.3%(188)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.2%(3)
Cuban0.1%(1)
Dominican0.1%(1)
Ancestry
German35.3%(621)
American24.5%(430)
Irish13.7%(241)
Italian4.8%(85)
English3.9%(68)
Scottish2.8%(50)
Dutch1.5%(26)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(16)
Welsh0.9%(16)
French0.5%(8)
Polish0.3%(5)
Portuguese0.3%(5)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
Section 05

Education

5.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.0%
+15.9 ptssince 2000
from 71.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
1.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 2.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

28.3 min
+79%since 2000
from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
80.0%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 74.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
8.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

8.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
58.3%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 64.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
64.6%
US average: 73.3%
14.5%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.1% in 2009
50.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
0.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
7.9%
−13.1 ptssince 2013
from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
89.9%
US average: 91.9%
87.2%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married48.8%(330)
Married37.3%(252)
Widowed2.2%(15)
Divorced11.7%(79)
Women 15+
Never married41.2%(329)
Married32.2%(257)
Widowed8.8%(70)
Divorced17.8%(142)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

7.9%
−13.1 ptssince 2013
from 21.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
51.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
5.0%
US average: 13.7%
17.4%
US average: 17.6%
35.1%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.8%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
56.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
47.9%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)16.2%(21)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)26.9%(35)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era40.8%(53)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War12.3%(16)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II3.1%(4)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 130 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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Frequently asked

How many people live in Terra Alta, West Virginia?

Terra Alta, West Virginia has about 1,415 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Terra Alta, West Virginia?

The typical household in Terra Alta, West Virginia earns about $40,774 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Terra Alta, West Virginia expensive?

In Terra Alta, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $68,500, and the typical rent is about $699 a month.

How educated are people in Terra Alta, West Virginia?

About 5.1% of adults age 25 and over in Terra Alta, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Terra Alta, West Virginia?

About 28.4% of people in Terra Alta, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Terra Alta, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Terra Alta, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 294 residents, a change of about -17 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →