City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Alderson, WV

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Alderson - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,182
Residents
$33,794
Median income
$119,200
Median home
$869
Median rent (state)

Alderson - the verdict

Alderson ranks in the 4th percentile for household income and the 42nd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

4th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
2nd
percentile, median rent
42nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Alderson, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,182 residents in Alderson, a small town within West Virginia. Alderson households earn a median of $33,794 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 31.8%. Alderson's housing stock carries a median value of $119,200, and the median resident age is 53.5 years. 12.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 22.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits). Alderson reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 1609.4 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Alderson's yearly average temperature at 52.8°F with 40.7 inches of precipitation per year and 12.2 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts West Virginia at 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $869 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 28.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,182 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$33,794 /yr

Poverty 31.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Alderson compare to other US cities?

Here's how Alderson stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% pricier than other cities
Safety 42% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to West Virginia alone, Alderson ranks #23 of 45 West Virginia cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Alderson's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in West Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

4thIncome percentile
42ndSafety percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income · 42nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Alderson's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Alderson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 46 Avg. percentile National median
Alderson's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Alderson's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$119,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Alderson $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Alderson, WV Alderson, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Alderson, WV-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Alderson, WV median $33,794/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Alderson, WV's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Alderson, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 31.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 22.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,182
Median Income
$33,794
Median Home Value
$119,200
Median Age
53.5
Poverty Rate
31.8%
Labor force participation
22.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1609.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
214.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1394.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
52.8°F
Annual Precipitation
40.7"
Annual Snowfall
12.2"

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
920 residents940 residents960 residents980 residents 202020212022202320242025 969 residents 925 residents ▼ -4.5%
Alderson's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 4
2021 1
2022 1
2023 1
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.2%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
3.6%
Other
13.3%

Based on 225 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for West Virginia - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$220
estimated/month

Estimates reflect West Virginia state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a West Virginia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Alderson sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$869/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
28.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Benwood
1,173 people
Hamlin
1,173 people
Lesage
1,165 people
Athens
1,156 people
Ansted
1,210 people
Brush Fork
1,213 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Alderson's 1,182 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kissee Mills, MO
1,182 people
Clear Lake Shores, TX
1,182 people
Pinon, AZ
1,183 people
Marine, IL
1,181 people
New Milford, IL
1,183 people
Oreana, IL
1,183 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Alderson's $33,794 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Las Lomas, TX
$33,796 median income
Sale City, GA
$33,804 median income
Muskegon Heights, MI
$33,780 median income
Olmito, TX
$33,813 median income
New Castle, KY
$33,833 median income
Tutwiler, MS
$33,836 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Alderson, WV Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Alderson, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 98.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.4% White 98.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Alderson compares to nearby West Virginia cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Alderson (this city) 1,182 $33,794
Benwood 1,173 $39,474
Hamlin 1,173 $56,583
Lesage 1,165 $38,944
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Alderson, WV?

What is the population of Alderson, WV? +

1,182 people live in Alderson, WV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Alderson, WV? +

Median annual household income in Alderson runs $33,794, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Alderson? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Alderson; the closest available measure is the West Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 89.5 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within West Virginia vary by metro area.

Is Alderson, WV safe? +

Alderson has a total crime rate of 1609.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Alderson, WV? +

Homes in Alderson carry a median value of $119,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Alderson? +

Climate normals put Alderson's yearly average temperature at 52.8°F, 40.7 inches of precipitation, and 12.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.