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COUNTY

Hardy County

West Virginia · 14,337 residents (2025 est.) · 582.315 sq mi
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The short version

Hardy County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $49,272. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 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 $166,300. With a median age of 46.7, 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 46.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,243
+12%since 2000
from 12,669 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
24 / sq mi
+6%since 2009
from 23 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
46.7
+20%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,337 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K13K14K15K1990201020202024Hardy County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(774)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.6%(802)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145%(716)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.4%(773)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(673)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.8%(1,684)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.9%(1,412)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.1%(1,864)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.7%(2,242)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.5%(1,917)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.8%(1,111)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(275)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,272
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,846 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,801
+88%since 2000
from $15,859 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.6%
+15.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.7%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.430
+3%since 2010
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$166,300
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$816
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $375 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2000
from 80.5% in 2000
22.7% rent
Vacancy rate
28.1%
−11.6 ptssince 2009
from 39.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.1%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
−7%since 2009
from 3.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
41
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hardy County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(12,225)
Black1.8%(230)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(84)
Asian0.1%(17)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.7%(12,636)
Black4.7%(675)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(658)
Asian0.1%(8)
Other1.9%(266)
Diversity Score
26
+206%since 2009
from 8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
28
−35%since 2020
from 44 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
Puerto Rican2.8%(397)
Mexican1.1%(163)
Chilean0.3%(38)
Salvadoran0.1%(11)
Guatemalan0.1%(9)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German22.1%(3,151)
English8.4%(1,194)
Irish7.9%(1,132)
American5.4%(765)
Scottish2.7%(379)
Italian1.9%(267)
West Indian1.7%(236)
Welsh1.6%(228)
Haitian1.5%(217)
French1%(136)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(127)
Dutch0.6%(89)
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data
Belgian0.5%(65)
Austrian0.3%(46)
Swedish0.3%(46)
Polish0.2%(27)
Swiss0.2%(26)
British0.2%(22)
Slovak0.1%(20)
Greek0.1%(19)
Finnish0.1%(15)
Czech0.1%(12)
Ukrainian0.1%(12)
Russian0.1%(10)
Norwegian0.1%(8)
Iranian0%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Puerto Rican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.9%
+14.6 ptssince 2000
from 70.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.8%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.7 min
+48%since 2000
from 20.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.1%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% 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
8.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.0%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 58.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.2%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 55.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
48.8%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.0%
−41.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 17.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.8%
−77.4 ptssince 2013
from 85.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.9%
+14.6 ptssince 2017
from 69.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2016
from 93.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33.5%(2,054)
Married44%(2,692)
Widowed4.5%(276)
Divorced18%(1,102)
Women 15+
Never married21.2%(1,233)
Married47.4%(2,760)
Widowed14.1%(823)
Divorced17.4%(1,011)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Hardy County to nearby counties

HARDY COUNTY VS
Shenandoah County
Income$67,191+36%
Home value$294,900+77%
Population45,839+220%
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HARDY COUNTY VS
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Home value$175,100+5%
Population11,041−23%
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HARDY COUNTY VS
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Home value$219,200+32%
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HARDY COUNTY VS
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Income$69,375+41%
Home value$180,400+8%
Population26,792+87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hardy County, West Virginia?

Hardy County, West Virginia has about 14,243 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Hardy County, West Virginia earns about $49,272 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hardy County, West Virginia expensive?

In Hardy County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $166,300, and the typical rent is about $816 a month.

How educated are people in Hardy County, West Virginia?

About 15.7% of adults age 25 and over in Hardy County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 17.7% of people in Hardy County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hardy County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Hardy County, West Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,266 residents, a change of about 30 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9703Census Tract 9701.01Census Tract 9702.02Census Tract 9702.01Census Tract 9701.02
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 26836ZIP 26851ZIP 26818ZIP 26812ZIP 26801ZIP 26845ZIP 26810ZIP 26838
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →