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.

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West VirginiaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

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

02St. Albans, WVWV10,210-3.1%−6.5 pts

03Dunbar, WVWV7,050-3.0%+3.2 pts

04Oak Hill, WVWV7,629-3.0%−14.4 pts

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

06Bluefield, WVWV9,158-2.8%+7.4 pts

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

08Beckley, WVWV16,373-2.7%+3.0 pts

09Weirton, WVWV18,133-2.7%+5.1 pts

10Wheeling, WVWV25,680-2.6%+7.3 pts

11Princeton, WVWV5,578-2.3%+7.6 pts

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

13Elkins, WVWV6,622-1.8%+3.5 pts

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

15Hurricane, WVWV7,367-1.5%−16.6 pts

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

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

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

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

20Vienna, WVWV10,321-1.3%−1.2 pts

21Fairmont, WVWV18,035-1.1%+4.4 pts

22Bridgeport, WVWV9,427-0.9%−9.3 pts

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

24Morgantown, WVWV30,293-0.4%−4.0 pts

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

26Nitro, WVWV6,270+3.5%+3.9 pts

27Ranson corporation, WVWV6,853+5.4%–

28Pea Ridge, WVWV6,988+5.8%–

29Brookhaven, WVWV6,212+8.8%−14.6 pts

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

31Charles, WVWV9,329+12.3%+11.8 pts

SHOWING 1–31 OF 31

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES