Nicholas County is a county of 24,277 people in West Virginia. At a median age of 46.1, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 82% of homes are owner-occupied. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $121,600. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The foreign-born share is 2%.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $54,639, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Nicholas County
What changed most since 1990
Median home value (2024 dollars)$102,243 → $121,600(+19%)US over the same years: +67%
Median age34.7 → 46.1(+11.4 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Poverty rate24.4% → 15.4%(−9.0 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)10.8%(157)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)26%(378)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era44.6%(649)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.7%(39)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 1,456 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
Nicholas County, decade by decade
Nicholas 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
26,775
$43,480
$102,243
8.0%
1.8
2000
26,562
$49,137
$96,183
9.8%
3.7
2010
26,233
$55,323
$105,591
13.0%
5.1
2020
24,604
$48,867
$116,113
17.7%
10.7
2024
24,277
$54,639
$121,600
23.3%
9.1
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 Nicholas County, West Virginia?
Nicholas County, West Virginia has about 24,277 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Nicholas County, West Virginia?
The typical household in Nicholas County, West Virginia earns about $54,639 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Nicholas County, West Virginia expensive?
In Nicholas County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $121,600, and the typical rent is about $686 a month.
How educated are people in Nicholas County, West Virginia?
About 23.3% of adults age 25 and over in Nicholas County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Nicholas County, West Virginia?
About 15.4% of people in Nicholas County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Nicholas County, West Virginia grown since 1990?
Yes, Nicholas County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,498 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.
