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CITY

Welch

West Virginia · 3,389 residents (2025 est.) · 6.037 sq mi
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The short version

Welch has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $32,969. Population has grown 31% since 2000. 5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $57,300. The poverty rate of 28.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 45% less than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
5% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,507
+31%since 2000
from 2,683 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
581 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 444 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.6
−9%since 2000
from 44.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,389 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K2K3K3K4K1990201020202024Welch
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,969
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $19,795 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,499
−36%since 2000
from $16,308 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
13.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 28.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.416
−17%since 2010
from 0.498 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade3.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical0.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade0%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$57,300
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$441
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $294 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.3%
+12.9 ptssince 2000
from 62.4% in 2000
24.7% rent
Vacancy rate
29.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.8%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
64.9%
+19.9 ptssince 2009
from 45.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+1%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
15
RELATED:See current rent listings in Welch on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic78.5%(2,105)
Black19.2%(514)
Hispanic / Latino1%(28)
Asian0.3%(8)
Other0%
Diversity Score41.7%(1,119)
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.8%(2,271)
Black24.3%(853)
Hispanic / Latino9.8%(344)
Asian0.3%(9)
Other0.9%(30)
Diversity Score64%(2,244)
Diversity Score
64
+53%since 2000
from 42 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
5.0%
−6.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
72.0%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 62.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
1.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.3 min
−16%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.1%
−16.5 ptssince 2009
from 88.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.6%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
4.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.8%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
16.7%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.0%
−8.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
13.5%
−23.4 ptssince 2011
from 36.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
41.9%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.9%
−31.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
77.7%
+26.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Female
22.3%
−26.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Foreign born
8.3%
+6.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.4%
−46.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
40.0%
+13.9 ptssince 2012
from 26.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−80.4 ptssince 2013
from 86.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.8%
+15.9 ptssince 2017
from 61.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 89.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 9.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Welch, West Virginia?

Welch, West Virginia has about 3,507 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Welch, West Virginia earns about $32,969 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Welch, West Virginia expensive?

In Welch, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $57,300, and the typical rent is about $441 a month.

How educated are people in Welch, West Virginia?

About 5.0% of adults age 25 and over in Welch, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Welch, West Virginia?

About 28.2% of people in Welch, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Welch, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Welch, West Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 438 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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

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