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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Wetzel County

West Virginia · 16,583 residents · 358 sq mi
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The short version

With 16,583 people, Wetzel County is a county in West Virginia. At a median age of 44.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 28% national rate. Median home value sits at $82,200. 78% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 1%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 44.8
US median: 37.2
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,583
−6%since 2000
from 17,693 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
44.8
+11%since 2000
from 40.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
358 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K17K18K20K19902000201020202024Wetzel County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 55.1%(848)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 95.5%(913)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 146.2%(1,027)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 196.5%(1,075)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 244.8%(797)
US avg: 7%
25 to 349.8%(1,625)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4412.4%(2,063)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5415.4%(2,562)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6414.7%(2,434)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 7410.9%(1,806)
US avg: 7%
75 to 846.6%(1,087)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over2.1%(346)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,636
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,935 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,899
+18%since 2000
from $16,818 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
20.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
17.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade11.5%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing5%
US avg: 0.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 7%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.9%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$82,200
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$482
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $335 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
77.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
22.4% rent
Vacancy rate
16.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Persons per household
2.42 people
+4%since 2009
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
Owner cost-burdened
14.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.2
+1%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-Hispanic98.6%(17,439)
Black0.1%(15)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(74)
Asian0.3%(57)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic98.4%(16,319)
Black0.1%(24)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(83)
Asian0.2%(40)
Other0.5%(90)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.1%(17)
Colombian0.1%(13)
Mexican0.1%(12)
Ancestry
German27.5%(4,600)
Irish16%(2,665)
American12.8%(2,131)
English12.4%(2,075)
Dutch2.7%(449)
Polish2.6%(427)
Italian2.4%(409)
Scottish2.1%(351)
French1.9%(311)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(280)
Welsh1%(173)
Swedish0.9%(147)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.7%(114)
Norwegian0.5%(82)
Russian0.4%(63)
Slovak0.4%(61)
British0.3%(50)
Croatian0.2%(36)
Austrian0.2%(27)
Slovene0.1%(21)
Hungarian0.1%(19)
Belgian0.1%(17)
Czech0.1%(16)
Arab0.1%(9)
Lebanese0.1%(9)
Lithuanian0.1%(9)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
82.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 77.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.8 min
+34%since 2000
from 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
1.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
8.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
15.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
25.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married28%(1,590)
Married52.9%(3,007)
Widowed6.4%(362)
Divorced12.7%(724)
Women 15+
Never married18%(1,065)
Married55.8%(3,309)
Widowed14%(833)
Divorced12.2%(723)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
3.7%
−9.9 ptssince 2013
from 13.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
57.5%
+5.0 ptssince 2020
from 52.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 11.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
25.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2020
from 26.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
26.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 28.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 1.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
67.4%
+5.5 ptssince 2020
from 61.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
46.7%
−3.3 ptssince 2020
from 50.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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)12.7%(121)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.2%(221)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era42.4%(403)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.2%(21)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 951 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 Wetzel County to nearby counties

WETZEL COUNTY VS
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Home value$121,300+48%
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WETZEL COUNTY VS
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Home value$149,800+82%
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WETZEL COUNTY VS
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Home value$166,700+103%
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WETZEL COUNTY VS
Doddridge County
Income$57,401+57%
Home value$160,800+96%
Population7,634−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wetzel County, West Virginia?

Wetzel County, West Virginia has about 16,583 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wetzel County, West Virginia earns about $36,636 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wetzel County, West Virginia expensive?

In Wetzel County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $82,200, and the typical rent is about $482 a month.

How educated are people in Wetzel County, West Virginia?

About 12.6% of adults age 25 and over in Wetzel County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 17.5% of people in Wetzel County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wetzel County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Wetzel County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,675 residents, a change of about -14 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 →