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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Wetzel County

West Virginia · 14,442 residents · 358 sq mi
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The short version

With 14,442 people, Wetzel County is a county in West Virginia. At a median age of 47.0, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $97,000. 77% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 0%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 47.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% 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
14,442
−18%since 2000
from 17,693 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
47.0
+16%since 2000
from 40.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
358 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K17K18K20K19902000201020202024Wetzel County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55%(723)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(755)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.7%(816)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.7%(827)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(726)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.4%(1,501)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.7%(1,549)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.4%(1,933)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.2%(2,193)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413.1%(1,885)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.2%(1,179)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(355)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,539
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,935 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,050
+37%since 2000
from $16,818 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
27.5%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade13%
US avg: 10%
Information12.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance11.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade9.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services5.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing5.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 2%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$97,000
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$705
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $335 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
77.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
22.9% rent
Persons per household
2.51 people
+8%since 2009
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
2.2
−2%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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic94.9%(13,704)
Black0.2%(34)
Hispanic / Latino1%(148)
Asian0.3%(50)
Other1.4%(204)
Segregation Score
44
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 Rican0.7%(107)
Mexican0.1%(19)
Ancestry
German15.3%(2,339)
Irish10.1%(1,551)
American8%(1,226)
English6.5%(997)
Scottish2.3%(357)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(194)
Italian1.2%(187)
Dutch0.9%(134)
Polish0.9%(131)
French0.7%(108)
Welsh0.3%(52)
Swiss0.3%(45)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Croatian0.3%(39)
British0.2%(30)
Ghanaian0.2%(26)
Lithuanian0.1%(22)
Finnish0.1%(19)
Russian0.1%(18)
Slovak0.1%(18)
Ukrainian0.1%(18)
Austrian0.1%(12)
Lebanese0.1%(11)
Belgian0%(7)
Swedish0%(6)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.6%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.0 min
+31%since 2000
from 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 78.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
46.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 48.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
55.2%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
18.6%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.7%
−7.9 ptssince 2013
from 13.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
80.2%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
90.4%
US average: 86.2%
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

Uninsured
5.7%
−7.9 ptssince 2013
from 13.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
52.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
11.4%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
26.6%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
28.1%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
61.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
50.0%
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)3.7%(31)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)12.9%(107)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era47.1%(390)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War10.9%(90)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.7%(39)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 828 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
Tyler County
Income$63,693+43%
Home value$121,300+25%
Population7,881−43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WETZEL COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income$59,169+33%
Home value$149,800+54%
Population29,159+112%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WETZEL COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income$67,370+51%
Home value$166,700+72%
Population55,584+305%
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WETZEL COUNTY VS
Doddridge County
Income$57,401+29%
Home value$160,800+66%
Population7,634−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wetzel County, West Virginia?

Wetzel County, West Virginia has about 14,442 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wetzel County, West Virginia earns about $44,539 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 $97,000, and the typical rent is about $705 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 20.1% 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 4,816 residents, a change of about -25 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 →