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COUNTY

Lincoln County

West Virginia · 19,177 residents (2025 est.) · 437 sq mi
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The short version

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
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,902
−10%since 2000
from 22,108 in 2000
19,177 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
46 / sq mi
−10%since 2009
from 51 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.1
+18%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
437 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K20K21K22K22K19902000201020202024Lincoln County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(1,005)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95%(1,000)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.4%(1,482)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.2%(1,423)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(921)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.4%(2,074)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.4%(2,264)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.6%(2,698)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.3%(2,855)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.8%(2,542)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(1,182)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.3%(456)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,205
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,662 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,319
+94%since 2000
from $13,073 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.0%
+19.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.2%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 27.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.476
+7%since 2010
from 0.443 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade6%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing4.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$105,300
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$771
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $322 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.5%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 79.1% in 2000
25.5% rent
Vacancy rate
20.0%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.58 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.51 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
13.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
22.4%
−13.8 ptssince 2009
from 36.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+1%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
27
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(21,787)
Black0.1%(13)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(121)
Asian0.1%(12)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.3%(19,163)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(164)
Asian0.5%(103)
Other2.4%(471)
Diversity Score
9
+111%since 2009
from 4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
50
+162%since 2020
from 19 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
Honduran0.6%(126)
Mexican0.2%(31)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(103)
Ancestry
English10.6%(2,103)
American10.3%(2,052)
Irish6.7%(1,336)
German4.2%(845)
Dutch0.7%(130)
Scottish0.4%(87)
Italian0.4%(86)
Polish0.4%(86)
French0.3%(55)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(37)
Welsh0.2%(35)
Croatian0.1%(16)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Greek0.1%(13)
Norwegian0.1%(10)
Slovak0%(7)
Russian0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.0%
+19.3 ptssince 2000
from 62.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.7 min
+15%since 2000
from 29.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.8%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.7%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% 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
10.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
40.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 43.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
47.7%
−7.1 ptssince 2020
from 54.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
18.6%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.5%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
29.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2012
from 26.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−8.5 ptssince 2013
from 14.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.7%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 69.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
87.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2020
from 84.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
92.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 93.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
99.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.7%(2,228)
Married51.4%(4,133)
Widowed3.1%(246)
Divorced17.8%(1,434)
Women 15+
Never married25.8%(2,162)
Married50%(4,186)
Widowed14.2%(1,193)
Divorced9.9%(833)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.8%
−8.5 ptssince 2013
from 14.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
39.9%
−5.8 ptssince 2020
from 45.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
7.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 4.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
26.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 24.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
42.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2020
from 36.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 3.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
48.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2020
from 52.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
62.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2020
from 56.6% 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)26.9%(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
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Lincoln County to nearby counties

LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$58,878+27%
Home value$127,100+21%
Population37,309+95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Cabell County
Income$55,832+21%
Home value$164,400+56%
Population91,183+375%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Boone County
Income$57,093+24%
Home value$93,100−12%
Population20,251+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Logan County
Income$49,723+8%
Home value$103,400−2%
Population30,375+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Lincoln County, West Virginia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy