RANKING · 2024 ACS · 55 SHOWN OF 55

Most residents in poverty, West Virginia counties

West Virginia counties with the most residents living below the poverty line, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the poverty rate. This list covers the 55 counties in West Virginia that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 55 is 3,772. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Mason County, WV, up 8 places to #21.

West VirginiaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS IN POVERTYVS 2000

01Kanawha County, WVWV172,38127,801−3%

02Monongalia County, WVWV107,99121,119+13%

03Cabell County, WVWV91,18317,807−4%

04Raleigh County, WVWV71,77516,700+14%

05Berkeley County, WVWV139,52214,378+65%

06Wood County, WVWV82,38512,301+1%

07Mercer County, WVWV57,5039,654−22%

08Harrison County, WVWV64,2219,333−21%

09▲1Fayette County, WVWV38,1657,604−26%

10▼1Marion County, WVWV55,5847,583−18%

11▲5Ohio County, WVWV40,4967,342−2%

12▲1Mingo County, WVWV21,4557,294−13%

13▲4Greenbrier County, WVWV31,5787,065+13%

14▼3Logan County, WVWV30,3756,844−25%

15▼1McDowell County, WVWV16,8786,132−40%

16▼1Putnam County, WVWV56,8856,056+26%

17▼5Wayne County, WVWV37,3095,563−34%

18Jefferson County, WVWV63,1025,148+18%

19▲1Jackson County, WVWV27,4505,112+20%

20▲1Marshall County, WVWV29,1595,024−15%

21▲8Mason County, WVWV24,7074,859−6%

22▼3Preston County, WVWV34,0044,703−12%

23▲2Wyoming County, WVWV19,8014,657−28%

24▲2Lincoln County, WVWV19,1774,610−25%

25▼2Upshur County, WVWV23,7584,563−3%

26▼2Randolph County, WVWV26,8824,387−14%

27▲1Hancock County, WVWV27,7294,126+14%

28▲2Mineral County, WVWV26,7923,772−5%

29▼7Nicholas County, WVWV23,8483,739−27%

30▼3Boone County, WVWV20,2513,414−39%

31▲1Barbour County, WVWV15,4143,081−12%

32▼1Hampshire County, WVWV24,1053,068−7%

33▲4Brooke County, WVWV21,1422,852−4%

34▲4Summers County, WVWV11,5322,791−12%

35▼1Lewis County, WVWV16,3942,698−20%

36▼3Roane County, WVWV13,3172,627−25%

37▲3Hardy County, WVWV14,3372,520+52%

38▲1Braxton County, WVWV11,8852,492−23%

39▼3Taylor County, WVWV16,2872,286−30%

40▼5Wetzel County, WVWV13,7342,252−36%

41Clay County, WVWV7,5382,071−27%

42▲2Calhoun County, WVWV5,9781,988+5%

43▲8Morgan County, WVWV18,0271,946+25%

44▼2Webster County, WVWV7,7601,895−39%

45▲1Ritchie County, WVWV8,0341,787−10%

46▼1Pocahontas County, WVWV7,6021,755+12%

47▼4Monroe County, WVWV12,4911,730−27%

48▼1Tyler County, WVWV7,8811,629+2%

49▼1Grant County, WVWV11,0411,457−21%

50▲2Gilmer County, WVWV7,0851,384−25%

51▼1Doddridge County, WVWV7,6341,144−22%

52▲2Tucker County, WVWV6,5401,021−23%

53Pendleton County, WVWV5,8261,000+7%

54▲1Pleasants County, WVWV7,338872−15%

55▼6Wirt County, WVWV4,879851−26%

SHOWING 1–55 OF 55

Download CSV (full list, 55 rows)

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