Lincoln County is a county of 19,902 people in West Virginia. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $105,300. At a median age of 44.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 0% of people here were born outside the United States. 23.2% of people here live below the federal poverty line.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $46,205, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
8% 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 Lincoln County
What changed most since 1990
Adults with a bachelor's degree4.7% → 8.1%(+3.4 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$94,803 → $105,300(+11%)US over the same years: +67%
Poverty rate33.8% → 23.2%(−10.6 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
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)26.9%(230)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)8%(68)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era45.1%(386)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.6%(14)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 855 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
Lincoln County, decade by decade
Lincoln 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
21,382
$35,183
$94,803
4.7%
2.3
2000
22,108
$41,282
$97,641
5.9%
3.6
2010
21,720
$44,406
$93,651
7.7%
3.3
2020
20,463
$50,983
$104,599
7.8%
9.1
2024
19,902
$46,205
$105,300
8.1%
9.0
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 Lincoln County, West Virginia?
Lincoln County, West Virginia has about 19,902 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lincoln County, West Virginia?
The typical household in Lincoln County, West Virginia earns about $46,205 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lincoln County, West Virginia expensive?
In Lincoln County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $105,300, and the typical rent is about $771 a month.
How educated are people in Lincoln County, West Virginia?
About 8.1% of adults age 25 and over in Lincoln County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lincoln County, West Virginia?
About 23.2% of people in Lincoln County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lincoln County, West Virginia grown since 1990?
Yes, Lincoln County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,480 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.
