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STATE · ADMITTED 1863 · 2020 ACS

West Virginia

1,793,716 residents · 55 counties · 439 cities · 546 census tracts
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The short version

West Virginia has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,037. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $123,200.

WV
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,793,716
−1%since 2000
from 1,808,344 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
75 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.9
+10%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
1.8M1.8M1.8M1.8M1.9M1990201020202024West Virginia
20241.8M
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,037
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,696 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,346
+66%since 2000
from $16,477 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
30.5%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
17.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing2.9%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$123,200
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$732
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $401 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
72.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 75.2% in 2000
27.4% rent
Afford Score
2.6
+15%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in West Virginia on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(1,709,966)
Black3.1%(56,825)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(12,279)
Asian0.5%(9,356)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.6%(191,534)
2020
White, non-Hispanic89.1%(1,598,834)
Black3.6%(64,749)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(34,827)
Asian0.8%(14,903)
Other2.6%(46,629)
Diversity Score21.5%(386,062)
Diversity Score
22
+103%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.3%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.6%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 75.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
8.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.1 min
+43%since 2000
from 18.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
53.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 54.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
34.2%
−25.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.2%
−79.5 ptssince 2013
from 85.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Section 02

Largest cities

1.Charleston46,117
2.Huntington44,815
3.Morgantown30,293
4.Parkersburg28,593
5.Wheeling25,680
6.Martinsburg19,211
7.Weirton18,133
8.Fairmont18,035
9.Beckley16,373
10.Clarksburg15,562
11.Teays Valley14,151
12.South Charleston13,072
Frequently asked

How many people live in West Virginia?

West Virginia has about 1,793,716 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in West Virginia?

The typical household in West Virginia earns about $48,037 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Virginia expensive?

In West Virginia, the median home is worth about $123,200, and the typical rent is about $732 a month.

How educated are people in West Virginia?

About 21.3% of adults age 25 and over in West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Virginia?

About 17.1% of people in West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, West Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 239 residents, a change of about 0 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

Largest cities
CharlestonHuntingtonMorgantownParkersburgWheelingMartinsburgWeirtonFairmont
All 55 counties
Kanawha CountyBerkeley CountyMonongalia CountyCabell CountyWood CountyRaleigh CountyHarrison CountyJefferson CountyMercer CountyPutnam CountyMarion CountyOhio CountyFayette CountyWayne CountyPreston CountyGreenbrier CountyLogan CountyMarshall CountyHancock CountyJackson CountyRandolph CountyMineral CountyMason CountyHampshire CountyNicholas CountyUpshur CountyMingo CountyBrooke CountyBoone CountyWyoming CountyLincoln CountyMorgan CountyMcDowell CountyLewis CountyTaylor CountyBarbour CountyHardy CountyWetzel CountyRoane CountyMonroe CountyBraxton CountySummers CountyGrant CountyRitchie CountyTyler CountyWebster CountyDoddridge CountyPocahontas CountyClay CountyPleasants CountyGilmer CountyTucker CountyCalhoun CountyPendleton CountyWirt County
Metro areas
HuntingtonCharlestonMorgantownWheelingWeirtonBeckleyBluefieldClarksburgParkersburgFairmontElkins
Rankings
Highest income cities in West VirginiaFastest growing citiesAll US state rankings

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

West Virginia (2020): demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy