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COUNTY

Fayette County

West Virginia · 38,165 residents (2025 est.) · 661.558 sq mi
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The short version

Fayette County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,194. Population has fallen 17% since 2000, a loss of 8,060 residents. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $105,800. With a median age of 44.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
39,519
−17%since 2000
from 47,579 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
60 / sq mi
−15%since 2009
from 70 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.7
+13%since 2000
from 39.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:38,165 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
39K41K44K46K49K1990201020202024Fayette County
202440K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.8%(1,894)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(2,421)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(2,365)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(2,181)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(1,907)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.8%(4,272)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.2%(4,805)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.4%(5,306)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.9%(5,497)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.5%(5,353)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.2%(2,836)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(682)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,194
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,788 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,113
+104%since 2000
from $13,809 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.5%
+21.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 21.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.442
+2%since 2010
from 0.431 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade5%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing3.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$105,800
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$788
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $357 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.2% in 2000
22.3% rent
Vacancy rate
16.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.6%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.9%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−4%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
52
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fayette County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.2%(43,874)
Black5.6%(2,647)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(325)
Asian0.3%(144)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.4%(36,140)
Black4.1%(1,640)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(549)
Asian0.1%(21)
Other3%(1,169)
Diversity Score
20
+10%since 2009
from 18 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−35%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.5%(204)
Colombian0.2%(84)
Puerto Rican0.1%(29)
Asian origin
Thai0.1%(21)
Pacific Islander origin
Guamanian0%(12)
Ancestry
English19.6%(7,756)
Irish10.6%(4,178)
German9.5%(3,756)
American8.5%(3,344)
Scottish3.7%(1,452)
Italian2.8%(1,087)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(456)
French1.1%(446)
Polish1.1%(415)
Swedish0.6%(235)
Dutch0.6%(227)
Norwegian0.5%(179)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
West Indian0.4%(170)
Jamaican0.4%(161)
Welsh0.3%(130)
Arab0.2%(95)
Greek0.2%(89)
Russian0.2%(81)
Finnish0.2%(70)
Ukrainian0.2%(60)
Hungarian0.1%(54)
Lebanese0.1%(44)
Portuguese0.1%(42)
Swiss0.1%(41)
British0.1%(32)
Serbian0.1%(22)
Czech0.1%(21)
Slovak0.1%(21)
Egyptian0%(19)
Slovene0%(19)
Syrian0%(18)
Moroccan0%(14)
Belgian0%(13)
Danish0%(9)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.9%
+18.3 ptssince 2000
from 68.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.1 min
+46%since 2000
from 20.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% 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
8.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 46.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.8%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.4%
−40.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.4%
−3.3 ptssince 2012
from 24.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.0%
−75.2 ptssince 2013
from 83.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.7%
+12.9 ptssince 2017
from 69.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.4%(4,839)
Married51.2%(8,423)
Widowed4.6%(751)
Divorced14.8%(2,435)
Women 15+
Never married20.9%(3,423)
Married54%(8,855)
Widowed13.1%(2,145)
Divorced12%(1,968)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Fayette County to nearby counties

FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Raleigh County
Income$52,150−2%
Home value$150,900+43%
Population71,775+88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Nicholas County
Income$54,639+3%
Home value$121,600+15%
Population23,848−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Summers County
Income$40,699−23%
Home value$140,100+32%
Population11,532−70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FAYETTE COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$42,318−20%
Home value$109,100+3%
Population7,538−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fayette County, West Virginia?

Fayette County, West Virginia has about 39,519 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fayette County, West Virginia?

The typical household in Fayette County, West Virginia earns about $53,194 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fayette County, West Virginia expensive?

In Fayette County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $105,800, and the typical rent is about $788 a month.

How educated are people in Fayette County, West Virginia?

About 15.8% of adults age 25 and over in Fayette County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fayette County, West Virginia?

About 19.2% of people in Fayette County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fayette County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Fayette County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 8,433 residents, a change of about -18 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

13 census tracts
Census Tract 209Census Tract 202.01Census Tract 201.01Census Tract 204Census Tract 208Census Tract 202.02Census Tract 207Census Tract 211Census Tract 210Census Tract 203Census Tract 201.02Census Tract 205Census Tract 206
42 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 25901ZIP 25840ZIP 25962ZIP 25976ZIP 25938ZIP 25136ZIP 25831ZIP 25812ZIP 25917ZIP 26690ZIP 25185ZIP 25186ZIP 25854ZIP 25040ZIP 25868ZIP 25904ZIP 25085ZIP 25161ZIP 25139ZIP 25031ZIP 25118ZIP 25119ZIP 25152ZIP 25855ZIP 25059ZIP 25837ZIP 25866ZIP 26680ZIP 25864ZIP 25907
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Fayette County, West Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy