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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Nicholas County

West Virginia · 24,604 residents · 647 sq mi
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The short version

Nicholas County is home to 24,604 people in West Virginia. At a median age of 46.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Owners hold 79% of the housing stock. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $95,800. 1% of people here were born outside the United States.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 46.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
24,604
−7%since 2000
from 26,562 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
46.9
+19%since 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
647 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
24K25K26K26K27K19902000201020202024Nicholas County
202424K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.6%(1,130)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(1,344)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.1%(1,512)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.4%(1,321)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.5%(1,095)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.8%(2,402)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.8%(2,899)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.4%(3,301)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.7%(3,865)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.2%(3,486)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.9%(1,703)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.2%(546)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,318
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,974 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$22,061
+45%since 2000
from $15,207 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
22.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
19.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information10.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade7.2%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Manufacturing5%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services2.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 2%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration0.8%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$95,800
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$613
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $360 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
79.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 82.8% in 2000
20.7% rent
Persons per household
2.40 people
−5%since 2009
from 2.53 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.4
+22%since 2009
from 2.0 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-Hispanic98.5%(26,170)
Black0%(10)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(127)
Asian0.2%(50)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.6%(23,525)
Black0.2%(56)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(173)
Asian0.3%(72)
Other1.6%(396)
Segregation Score
34
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
Puerto Rican0.2%(49)
Mexican0.1%(29)
Cuban0.1%(14)
Dominican0%(12)
Asian origin
Indonesian0.2%(54)
Filipino0.2%(45)
Ancestry
Irish15.2%(3,773)
German13.6%(3,392)
English12.9%(3,210)
American11.1%(2,765)
Italian3.3%(813)
Dutch3%(754)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(426)
Scottish1.2%(294)
French1.1%(267)
Welsh0.9%(232)
Greek0.6%(160)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
British0.5%(130)
Polish0.5%(130)
Swiss0.3%(85)
Norwegian0.2%(51)
Danish0.1%(28)
Slovak0.1%(21)
Portuguese0.1%(18)
West Indian0.1%(18)
Jamaican0.1%(18)
Austrian0.1%(14)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.7%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.3%
+18.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.1 min
+57%since 2000
from 21.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
85.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 86.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
49.0%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 53.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
60.3%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
27.5%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.1%
−8.8 ptssince 2013
from 14.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
86.9%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
94.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married28%(2,863)
Married51.6%(5,285)
Widowed5%(512)
Divorced15.4%(1,575)
Women 15+
Never married17.1%(1,724)
Married50%(5,043)
Widowed12.4%(1,251)
Divorced20.4%(2,059)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.1%
−8.8 ptssince 2013
from 14.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
49.0%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
10.2%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
28.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
32.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
60.4%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
55.2%
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)10.3%(175)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)13.6%(230)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era50.4%(855)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War2.6%(44)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.9%(50)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,696 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 Nicholas County to nearby counties

NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$42,318+5%
Home value$109,100+14%
Population7,538−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Webster County
Income$43,839+9%
Home value$76,100−21%
Population7,760−67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Fayette County
Income$53,194+32%
Home value$105,800+10%
Population38,165+60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NICHOLAS COUNTY VS
Braxton County
Income$50,331+25%
Home value$117,900+23%
Population11,885−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Nicholas County, West Virginia?

Nicholas County, West Virginia has about 24,604 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Nicholas County, West Virginia earns about $40,318 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 $95,800, and the typical rent is about $613 a month.

How educated are people in Nicholas County, West Virginia?

About 17.7% 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 19.1% 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 2,171 residents, a change of about -8 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 →