CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Preston County

West Virginia · 34,216 residents · 648.814 sq mi
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The short version

Preston County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $51,992. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has 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
Population density
53 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 45 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
43.5
+11%since 2000
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
29K30K32K33K35K1990201020202024Preston County
202434K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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
Afford Score
2.3
+15%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Preston County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.3%(28,845)
Black0.3%(82)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(168)
Asian0.1%(43)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.5%(732)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic88.7%(30,348)
Black5.8%(2,001)
Hispanic / Latino2%(695)
Asian0.2%(53)
Other2.4%(809)
Diversity Score24.3%(8,315)
Segregation Score69.6%(23,814)
Diversity Score
24
+874%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
70
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%
Management & professional
28.1%
−26.4 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% 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%
−78.0 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Preston County

Madison County
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.

Keep going

Explore from here

11 census tracts
Census Tract 9638.01Census Tract 9643Census Tract 9639Census Tract 9640Census Tract 9642Census Tract 9638.02Census Tract 9644Census Tract 9645Census Tract 9641.01Census Tract 9641.03Census Tract 9641.02
14 ZIP codes
ZIP 26525ZIP 26537ZIP 26764ZIP 26444ZIP 26547ZIP 26519ZIP 26542ZIP 26374ZIP 26425ZIP 26716ZIP 26705ZIP 26410ZIP 26520ZIP 26524
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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