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COUNTY

Lewis County

West Virginia · 16,394 residents (2025 est.) · 386.93 sq mi
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The short version

Lewis County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,477. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% 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 $151,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,740
−1%since 2000
from 16,919 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
43 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 44 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.0
+7%since 2000
from 40.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,394 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K17K1990201020202024Lewis County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(943)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(1,076)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.8%(965)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.7%(961)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(868)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.3%(2,052)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.1%(1,862)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.9%(2,167)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.8%(2,318)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.6%(2,116)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.4%(1,071)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(341)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,477
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,066 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,362
+147%since 2000
from $13,933 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+26.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.1%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 19.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.491
+7%since 2010
from 0.459 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information17.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing6.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services4%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$151,800
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$730
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $340 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 73.0% in 2000
27.8% rent
Vacancy rate
15.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
9.7%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.6%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+2%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
69
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lewis County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(16,604)
Black0.1%(22)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(85)
Asian0.3%(48)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90%(15,063)
Black1.1%(184)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(232)
Asian0.1%(21)
Other7.4%(1,240)
Diversity Score
23
+256%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
18
+37%since 2020
from 13 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
Spaniard0.9%(149)
Mexican0.4%(64)
Puerto Rican0.1%(19)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(21)
Ancestry
German16.5%(2,762)
Irish11.6%(1,943)
English11.4%(1,902)
American9.7%(1,631)
Italian4.9%(821)
Dutch1%(170)
Scottish1%(163)
French0.9%(144)
Polish0.6%(101)
Norwegian0.3%(48)
Greek0.3%(47)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.2%(41)
Welsh0.2%(38)
Nigerian0.1%(17)
Swedish0.1%(17)
Russian0.1%(15)
Croatian0.1%(13)
Hungarian0.1%(12)
Austrian0.1%(10)
British0.1%(10)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.9%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.5%
+14.8 ptssince 2000
from 73.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.5 min
+65%since 2000
from 17.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.2%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% 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
10.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.6%
+3.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 53.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.3%
−19.4 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
50.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.5%
−39.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 15.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.5%
−75.9 ptssince 2013
from 82.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.2%
+17.1 ptssince 2017
from 67.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.1%(2,056)
Married53.6%(3,660)
Widowed6.9%(474)
Divorced9.4%(642)
Women 15+
Never married21.7%(1,505)
Married53.5%(3,702)
Widowed12.8%(888)
Divorced12%(829)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lewis County

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Pop 16,688
Cleburne County
Pop 15,970
Franklin County
Pop 17,725
Edgar County
Pop 16,323
Places similar to Lewis County
Head to head

Compare Lewis County to nearby counties

LEWIS COUNTY VS
Upshur County
Income$54,338−4%
Home value$170,800+13%
Population23,758+45%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEWIS COUNTY VS
Gilmer County
Income$47,981−15%
Home value$83,800−45%
Population7,085−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEWIS COUNTY VS
Harrison County
Income$60,377+7%
Home value$166,200+9%
Population64,221+292%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LEWIS COUNTY VS
Doddridge County
Income$57,401+2%
Home value$160,800+6%
Population7,634−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lewis County, West Virginia?

Lewis County, West Virginia has about 16,740 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lewis County, West Virginia earns about $56,477 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lewis County, West Virginia expensive?

In Lewis County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $151,800, and the typical rent is about $730 a month.

How educated are people in Lewis County, West Virginia?

About 18.9% of adults age 25 and over in Lewis County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 16.1% of people in Lewis County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lewis County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Lewis County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 483 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9673Census Tract 9672Census Tract 9676Census Tract 9675Census Tract 9674
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 26452ZIP 26378ZIP 26447ZIP 26412ZIP 26372ZIP 26338ZIP 26343ZIP 26321
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →