With 39,519 people, Fayette County is a county in West Virginia. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 16% of adults. The median age is 44.7, about 6 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $105,800, having more than doubled since 2000. 0% of locals were born outside the United States. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $53,194, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Fayette County
What changed most since 1990
Population47,952 → 39,519(−18%)US over the same years: +35%
Adults with a bachelor's degree8.8% → 15.8%(+7.0 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$82,562 → $105,800(+28%)US over the same years: +67%
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)26.1%(686)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)26.3%(691)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.5%(827)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.9%(49)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(27)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,629 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
Over time
Fayette County, decade by decade
Fayette County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
47,952
$40,259
$82,562
8.8%
17.2
2000
47,579
$45,155
$87,622
10.7%
18.3
2010
46,039
$45,908
$97,535
10.7%
16.9
2020
40,488
$52,993
$115,265
15.2%
24.2
2024
39,519
$53,194
$105,800
15.8%
20.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
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.
