RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 31 SHOWN OF 31

Fastest shrinking, West Virginia cities · 2020

West Virginia cities with the steepest population decline from the 2010 census to 2020. 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

01Moundsville, WVWV7,659-13.1%−6.1 pts

02Princeton, WVWV5,578-8.7%+1.2 pts

03Buckhannon, WVWV5,054-8.0%−4.9 pts

04Nitro, WVWV6,270-7.7%−7.3 pts

05Bluefield, WVWV9,158-7.6%+2.7 pts

06Parkersburg, WVWV28,593-5.6%−3.5 pts

07Dunbar, WVWV7,050-5.4%+0.8 pts

08Wheeling, WVWV25,680-5.0%+4.9 pts

09Charleston, WVWV46,117-4.9%+1.8 pts

10Huntington, WVWV44,815-4.7%+1.5 pts

11Clarksburg, WVWV15,562-3.1%+4.0 pts

12New Martinsville, WVWV5,039-3.0%+7.7 pts

13Weirton, WVWV18,133-3.0%+4.8 pts

14Cross Lanes, WVWV9,671-2.7%+2.1 pts

15Elkins, WVWV6,622-2.3%+3.0 pts

16Beckley, WVWV16,373-1.9%+3.8 pts

17St. Albans, WVWV10,210-1.7%−5.0 pts

18Fairmont, WVWV18,035-1.5%+4.0 pts

19Vienna, WVWV10,321-0.9%−0.9 pts

20Pea Ridge, WVWV6,988-0.7%–

21South Charleston, WVWV13,072+1.5%+3.3 pts

22Morgantown, WVWV30,293+2.3%−1.3 pts

23Oak Hill, WVWV7,629+5.8%−5.6 pts

24Teays Valley, WVWV14,151+8.9%−41.7 pts

25Martinsburg, WVWV19,211+9.0%+2.6 pts

26Brookhaven, WVWV6,212+10.4%−13.0 pts

27Hurricane, WVWV7,367+10.8%−4.3 pts

28Bridgeport, WVWV9,427+14.6%+6.2 pts

29Ranson corporation, WVWV6,853+22.4%–

30Charles, WVWV9,329+24.2%+23.7 pts

31Cheat Lake, WVWV10,902+24.3%−35.9 pts

SHOWING 1–31 OF 31

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS