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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Fayette County

West Virginia · 47,579 residents · 662 sq mi
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The short version

Fayette County is home to 47,579 people in West Virginia. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. The typical home is worth $48,100. The median age is 39.6, about 4 years above the US median. Owners hold 77% of the housing stock. The poverty rate is 21.7%, above the 12.4% national rate.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 39.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

47,579
−1%since 1990
from 47,952 in 1990
1990 – 2025
39.6
+9%since 1990
from 36.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
662 sq mi
Population, 19902024
39K41K44K46K49K19902000201020202024Fayette County
202440K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.6%(2,685)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95.9%(2,820)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.1%(2,892)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.9%(3,302)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.8%(3,216)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.4%(5,881)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.7%(7,015)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5415.3%(7,282)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.8%(4,672)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 748.6%(4,084)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.8%(2,753)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.1%(977)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$24,788
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $16,774 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$13,809
+60%since 1990
from $8,653 in 1990
US average: $21,522
21.7%
−2.7 ptssince 1990
from 24.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$48,100
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $34,400 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$357
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $266 in 1990
US average: $602
77.2%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 76.4% in 1990
22.8% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic93%(44,589)
Black6.5%(3,094)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(179)
Asian0.4%(197)
2000
White, non-Hispanic92.2%(43,874)
Black5.6%(2,647)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(325)
Asian0.3%(144)

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%(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)
Section 05

Education

10.7%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 8.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
68.6%
+11.5 ptssince 1990
from 57.1% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.0%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 2.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.6 min
−3%since 1990
from 21.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.1%(4,627)
Married61.1%(11,741)
Widowed4%(771)
Divorced10.9%(2,091)
Women 15+
Never married17.3%(3,451)
Married54.2%(10,787)
Widowed17.3%(3,436)
Divorced11.2%(2,218)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

8.0%
−8.8 ptssince 2013
from 16.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
42.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2020
from 48.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.2%
+3.5 ptssince 2020
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
25.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 27.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
33.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 32.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
5.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 6.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
53.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2020
from 56.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
55.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 55.8% 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)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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Fayette County, West Virginia?

Fayette County, West Virginia has about 47,579 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Fayette County, West Virginia earns about $24,788 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 $48,100, and the typical rent is about $357 a month.

How educated are people in Fayette County, West Virginia?

About 10.7% 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 21.7% 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 373 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

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

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