RANKING · 2024 ACS · 31 SHOWN OF 31

Fastest shrinking, West Virginia cities

West Virginia cities with the steepest population decline from the 2020 census to 2024. This list covers the 31 cities in West Virginia that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 31 is -1.4%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Oak Hill, WV, up 19 places to #4.

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West VirginiaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01▲10Clarksburg, WVWV15,562-3.2%+4.0 pts

02▲15St. Albans, WVWV10,210-3.1%−6.5 pts

03▲4Dunbar, WVWV7,050-3.0%+3.2 pts

04▲19Oak Hill, WVWV7,629-3.0%−14.4 pts

05▲4Charleston, WVWV46,117-3.0%+3.8 pts

06▼1Bluefield, WVWV9,158-2.8%+7.4 pts

07▼6Moundsville, WVWV7,659-2.8%+4.3 pts

08▲8Beckley, WVWV16,373-2.7%+3.0 pts

09▲4Weirton, WVWV18,133-2.7%+5.1 pts

10▼2Wheeling, WVWV25,680-2.6%+7.3 pts

11▼9Princeton, WVWV5,578-2.3%+7.6 pts

12▼2Huntington, WVWV44,815-2.3%+3.9 pts

13▲2Elkins, WVWV6,622-1.8%+3.5 pts

14▼8Parkersburg, WVWV28,593-1.7%+0.4 pts

15▲12Hurricane, WVWV7,367-1.5%−16.6 pts

16▲5South Charleston, WVWV13,072-1.4%+0.5 pts

17▲7Teays Valley, WVWV14,151-1.4%−52.0 pts

18▼6New Martinsville, WVWV5,039-1.4%+9.4 pts

19▼16Buckhannon, WVWV5,054-1.3%+1.8 pts

20▼1Vienna, WVWV10,321-1.3%−1.2 pts

21▼3Fairmont, WVWV18,035-1.1%+4.4 pts

22▲6Bridgeport, WVWV9,427-0.9%−9.3 pts

23▼9Cross Lanes, WVWV9,671-0.6%+4.3 pts

24▼2Morgantown, WVWV30,293-0.4%−4.0 pts

25Martinsburg, WVWV19,211+0.7%−5.7 pts

26▼22Nitro, WVWV6,270+3.5%+3.9 pts

27▲2Ranson corporation, WVWV6,853+5.4%–

28▼8Pea Ridge, WVWV6,988+5.8%–

29▼3Brookhaven, WVWV6,212+8.8%−14.6 pts

30▲1Cheat Lake, WVWV10,902+9.8%−50.4 pts

31▼1Charles, WVWV9,329+12.3%+11.8 pts

SHOWING 1–31 OF 31

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES