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COUNTY

McDowell County

West Virginia · 16,878 residents (2025 est.) · 533.458 sq mi
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#25Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-11.7%
The short version

McDowell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $31,559. Population has fallen 34% since 2000, a loss of 9,386 residents. 7% 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 $50,000. The poverty rate of 34.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 47% less than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
17,943
−34%since 2000
from 27,329 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
34 / sq mi
−22%since 2009
from 43 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.7
+8%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,878 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K21K27K32K37K1990201020202024McDowell County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54%(719)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.1%(909)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(1,069)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.1%(923)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(873)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.7%(2,274)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.8%(2,476)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(2,305)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.8%(2,474)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.2%(2,540)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.4%(968)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.3%(413)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$31,559
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,931 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,253
+70%since 2000
from $10,174 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
17.5%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
34.2%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 37.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.462
+2%since 2010
from 0.452 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing11.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance10.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical10.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade5.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade2.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.1%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$50,000
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$643
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $260 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
22.7% rent
Vacancy rate
30.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 30.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 35.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
+11%since 2009
from 1.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
16
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in McDowell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.7%(23,695)
Black11.8%(3,234)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(132)
Asian0.1%(16)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.5%(15,515)
Black8.8%(1,577)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(373)
Asian0.1%(9)
Other2.6%(469)
Diversity Score
30
+7%since 2009
from 28 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
54
+10%since 2020
from 49 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
Mexican0.3%(62)
Puerto Rican0.1%(11)
Ancestry
English13.6%(2,448)
German7.6%(1,364)
Irish7.6%(1,361)
American6.1%(1,099)
Italian1.8%(329)
Scottish1.2%(213)
Romanian0.5%(88)
Hungarian0.4%(80)
Danish0.4%(77)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(75)
French0.3%(59)
Greek0.3%(50)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.3%(47)
Russian0.3%(45)
Slovak0.2%(40)
Norwegian0.2%(38)
Dutch0.2%(29)
Swiss0.1%(25)
Armenian0.1%(9)
Jamaican0.1%(9)
British0%(7)
Welsh0%(6)
Swedish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
75.5%
+25.5 ptssince 2000
from 50.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
36.0 min
+44%since 2000
from 25.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 83.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% 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
10.7%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
27.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 30.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.9%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.3%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
46.7%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.7%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 46.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
29.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2012
from 31.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.8%
−71.7 ptssince 2013
from 80.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.5%
+26.1 ptssince 2017
from 59.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.9%(3,342)
Married39.6%(3,238)
Widowed5.4%(441)
Divorced14.1%(1,154)
Women 15+
Never married25.3%(1,788)
Married41.1%(2,906)
Widowed22.6%(1,598)
Divorced11%(779)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare McDowell County to nearby counties

MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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Home value$94,900+90%
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MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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Home value$121,700+143%
Population57,503+241%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McDowell County, West Virginia?

McDowell County, West Virginia has about 17,943 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in McDowell County, West Virginia earns about $31,559 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is McDowell County, West Virginia expensive?

In McDowell County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $50,000, and the typical rent is about $643 a month.

How educated are people in McDowell County, West Virginia?

About 6.8% of adults age 25 and over in McDowell County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 34.2% of people in McDowell County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has McDowell County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, McDowell County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 17,290 residents, a change of about -49 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

8 census tracts
Census Tract 9545.03Census Tract 9545.04Census Tract 9538Census Tract 9545.01Census Tract 9540Census Tract 9542Census Tract 9539Census Tract 9536
34 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 24817ZIP 24892ZIP 24844ZIP 24868ZIP 24836ZIP 24862ZIP 24866ZIP 24871ZIP 24808ZIP 24872ZIP 24853ZIP 24828ZIP 24894ZIP 24813ZIP 24831ZIP 24811ZIP 24878ZIP 24846ZIP 24873ZIP 24879ZIP 24815ZIP 24830ZIP 24816ZIP 24848ZIP 24861ZIP 24888ZIP 24826ZIP 24881ZIP 24884ZIP 24855
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

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