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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Preston County

West Virginia · 34,216 residents · 649 sq mi
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The short version

Preston County is a county of 34,216 people in West Virginia. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Owners hold 81% of the housing stock. At a median age of 43.5, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $121,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
34,216
+17%since 2000
from 29,334 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
43.5
+11%since 2000
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
649 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
29K30K32K33K35K19902000201020202024Preston County
202434K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.9%(1,675)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(1,848)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.5%(1,878)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 194.7%(1,620)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.5%(1,539)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413%(4,456)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4414.1%(4,817)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.6%(4,669)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.2%(4,866)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.3%(4,206)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846%(2,042)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.8%(600)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,992
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,927 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,331
+86%since 2000
from $13,596 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.9%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 18.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade10.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Information9%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8.1%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing5.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services2.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Other services2.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$121,300
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$662
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $336 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
81.1%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 83.0% in 2000
18.9% rent
Persons per household
2.48 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.40 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.3
+6%since 2009
from 2.2 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-Hispanic98.3%(28,845)
Black0.3%(82)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(168)
Asian0.1%(43)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic88.7%(30,348)
Black5.8%(2,001)
Hispanic / Latino2%(695)
Asian0.2%(53)
Other2.4%(809)
Segregation Score
70
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 Rican0.5%(170)
Mexican0.5%(161)
Cuban0%(1)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(39)
Laotian0.1%(18)
Filipino0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(2)
Ancestry
American24.7%(8,318)
German21.3%(7,174)
Irish11.9%(3,990)
English7.3%(2,467)
Italian3.8%(1,268)
Scottish2.1%(710)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(593)
Dutch1.5%(506)
French1.4%(462)
Polish1.3%(431)
Russian0.7%(227)
British0.5%(168)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.3%(107)
Hungarian0.3%(106)
Czech0.2%(71)
Swedish0.2%(66)
Slovak0.2%(52)
Swiss0.2%(51)
Croatian0.1%(47)
Greek0.1%(38)
Ukrainian0.1%(37)
West Indian0.1%(35)
Norwegian0.1%(30)
Moroccan0.1%(18)
Haitian0.1%(18)
Syrian0%(13)
Lebanese0%(10)
Belgian0%(8)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.2%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.5%
+12.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.2 min
+44%since 2000
from 21.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
78.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 55.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
64.4%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
28.1%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
48.4%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.5%
−9.0 ptssince 2013
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
85.1%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
89.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married35.3%(5,520)
Married49.9%(7,800)
Widowed3.7%(578)
Divorced11%(1,720)
Women 15+
Never married21.9%(2,966)
Married54.4%(7,361)
Widowed13.1%(1,773)
Divorced10.6%(1,440)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.5%
−9.0 ptssince 2013
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
57.3%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.4%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
24.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
22.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.3%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
67.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
43.4%
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)18.9%(409)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)22.3%(483)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era42.2%(912)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War5.1%(110)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2%(43)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 2,163 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

Places similar to Preston County

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Pop 32,919
Christian County
Pop 33,443
Fulton County
Pop 32,901
Jefferson County
Pop 36,147
Places similar to Preston County
Head to head

Compare Preston County to nearby counties

PRESTON COUNTY VS
Garrett County
Income$67,688+30%
Home value$235,300+94%
Population28,370−17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRESTON COUNTY VS
Taylor County
Income$57,795+11%
Home value$148,800+23%
Population16,287−52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRESTON COUNTY VS
Monongalia County
Income$65,346+26%
Home value$267,700+121%
Population107,991+218%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRESTON COUNTY VS
Tucker County
Income$53,358+3%
Home value$154,800+28%
Population6,540−81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Preston County, West Virginia?

Preston County, West Virginia has about 34,216 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Preston County, West Virginia earns about $51,992 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Preston County, West Virginia expensive?

In Preston County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $121,300, and the typical rent is about $662 a month.

How educated are people in Preston County, West Virginia?

About 16.2% of adults age 25 and over in Preston County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 15.0% of people in Preston County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Preston County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Preston County, West Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,179 residents, a change of about 18 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 →