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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Ritchie County

West Virginia · 8,444 residents · 452 sq mi
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The short version

With 8,444 people, Ritchie County is a county in West Virginia. The median age is 48.6, about 10 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 12% of adults. Owners hold 81% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $96,100, having more than doubled since 2000. 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 48.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
12% 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
8,444
−18%since 2000
from 10,343 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
48.6
+22%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
452 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K9K9K10K11K19902000201020202024Ritchie County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55%(420)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.9%(413)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.4%(457)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(526)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(363)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.6%(814)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.4%(876)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.8%(1,167)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6416.8%(1,417)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.2%(1,196)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.2%(604)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.3%(191)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,328
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,332 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,773
+70%since 2000
from $15,175 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
26.1%
+10.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 19.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing8.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Finance & insurance5.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing4.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$96,100
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$556
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $323 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
81.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 81.7% in 2000
19.0% rent
Persons per household
2.33 people
−8%since 2009
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.2
+2%since 2009
from 2.1 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%(10,168)
Black0.1%(14)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(49)
Asian0.1%(13)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(8,116)
Black0.2%(16)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(80)
Asian0.2%(19)
Other2.2%(190)
Segregation Score
19
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%(3)
Asian origin
Chinese0.4%(37)
Ancestry
German17.7%(1,728)
American12%(1,168)
Irish12%(1,165)
English9.7%(941)
Dutch1.9%(183)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(161)
Scottish1.1%(108)
Welsh1.1%(104)
Italian1%(102)
French0.9%(91)
Canadian0.5%(50)
British0.4%(43)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.4%(43)
Swedish0.4%(38)
Norwegian0.3%(33)
Hungarian0.2%(21)
Iranian0.1%(10)
Finnish0.1%(5)
Russian0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.8%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
83.6%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.8 min
+12%since 2000
from 24.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 80.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
47.1%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 52.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
55.6%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
22.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.7%
−7.9 ptssince 2013
from 15.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
83.0%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
91.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married31.2%(1,084)
Married50.7%(1,763)
Widowed5.8%(200)
Divorced12.3%(428)
Women 15+
Never married18.3%(634)
Married57.4%(1,991)
Widowed14.8%(512)
Divorced9.6%(334)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
7.7%
−7.9 ptssince 2013
from 15.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
46.8%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.8%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
26.0%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
30.2%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
5.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
59.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
52.6%
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)16.4%(132)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)22%(177)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era43.2%(347)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War7.5%(60)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.1%(17)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 803 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 Ritchie County to nearby counties

RITCHIE COUNTY VS
Pleasants County
Income$60,932+37%
Home value$151,000+57%
Population7,338−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RITCHIE COUNTY VS
Doddridge County
Income$57,401+29%
Home value$160,800+67%
Population7,634−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RITCHIE COUNTY VS
Wirt County
Income$49,867+12%
Home value$115,800+20%
Population4,879−39%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RITCHIE COUNTY VS
Gilmer County
Income$47,981+8%
Home value$83,800−13%
Population7,085−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Ritchie County, West Virginia?

Ritchie County, West Virginia has about 8,444 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Ritchie County, West Virginia earns about $44,328 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Ritchie County, West Virginia expensive?

In Ritchie County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $96,100, and the typical rent is about $556 a month.

How educated are people in Ritchie County, West Virginia?

About 11.8% of adults age 25 and over in Ritchie County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 16.1% of people in Ritchie County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Ritchie County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Ritchie County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,789 residents, a change of about -17 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 →