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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

McDowell County

West Virginia · 19,111 residents · 533 sq mi
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The short version

McDowell County is a county of 19,111 people in West Virginia. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. 32.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $39,500. That trails the West Virginia median by roughly 46%. Owners hold 80% of the housing stock.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,111
−30%since 2000
from 27,329 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
44.5
+10%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
533 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K21K27K32K37K19902000201020202024McDowell County
202418K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 53.8%(721)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(921)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.7%(1,091)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.3%(1,017)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.4%(832)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.9%(2,458)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.8%(2,638)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.9%(2,663)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6416.2%(3,092)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.5%(2,395)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845%(953)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.7%(330)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$26,072
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,931 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$15,150
+49%since 2000
from $10,174 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
14.2%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
32.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2000
from 37.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing15.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing15.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Information8%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade2.4%
US avg: 10%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$39,500
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$594
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $260 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
79.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
20.5% rent
Persons per household
2.24 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
1.5
+6%since 2009
from 1.4 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.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.7%(23,695)
Black11.8%(3,234)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(132)
Asian0.1%(16)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic83%(15,871)
Black11.2%(2,139)
Hispanic / Latino2%(390)
Asian0.1%(20)
Other1.8%(353)
Segregation Score
49
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
Mexican0.7%(129)
Puerto Rican0.2%(37)
Guatemalan0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(10)
Ancestry
Irish12.8%(2,315)
German9.6%(1,729)
English7.8%(1,403)
American5.1%(918)
Italian3.2%(572)
Dutch2.2%(403)
Hungarian0.8%(144)
Scottish0.7%(133)
Polish0.6%(114)
British0.4%(76)
French0.4%(75)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(73)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Slovak0.2%(41)
Welsh0.1%(21)
Czech0.1%(16)
Russian0.1%(15)
Cape Verdean0.1%(13)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
6.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
72.2%
+22.2 ptssince 2000
from 50.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
2.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.5 min
+30%since 2000
from 25.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
87.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 83.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
13.4%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
15.0%
+5.8 ptssince 2011
from 9.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
28.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 30.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
40.4%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
28.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.9%
−14.6 ptssince 2013
from 19.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
80.0%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
94.3%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.9%
−14.6 ptssince 2013
from 19.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
34.9%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
4.1%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
31.9%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
46.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
2.8%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
40.1%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
71.0%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)4.7%(39)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)7.8%(64)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era50.2%(414)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War9.2%(76)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0.8%(7)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 824 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
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Compare McDowell County to nearby counties

MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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Income$48,440+86%
Home value$82,900+110%
Population19,801+17%
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MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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Home value$118,300+199%
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MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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Income$42,886+64%
Home value$94,900+140%
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MCDOWELL COUNTY VS
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Home value$121,700+208%
Population57,503+241%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in McDowell County, West Virginia?

McDowell County, West Virginia has about 19,111 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in McDowell County, West Virginia earns about $26,072 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 $39,500, and the typical rent is about $594 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 32.8% 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 16,122 residents, a change of about -46 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 →