City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Belle, WV

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

1,537
Residents
$74,200
Median income
$103,000
Median home
$1,036
Median rent (state)

Belle - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Belle places in the 55th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

55th
percentile, household income
11th
percentile, home value
23rd
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Belle, WV

West Virginia's Belle is a small town, with 1,537 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $74,200 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.7%. Typical homes in Belle are valued around $103,000, and the median resident age is 38.4 years. Educational attainment runs 16.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 51.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Belle (No Permits), per Census BPS data.

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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,036 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in West Virginia run around $220, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 94.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,537 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$74,200 /yr

Poverty 3.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Belle compare to other US cities?

Where Belle sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 55% higher than other cities
Home value 11% pricier than other cities
Median rent 23% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Belle against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to West Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

West Virginia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Belle toward the top of West Virginia's cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Belle ranks #54 - the 80th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Belle only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#52 of 330
84th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#54 of 390
80th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#180 of 337
47th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#279 of 389
28th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#174 of 390
55th percentile in West Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within West Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

55thIncome percentile

55th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Belle's home value compares nationally

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

$103,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 89% 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. Belle $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 - Belle, WV Belle, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Belle, 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 Belle, WV median $74,200/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%
Belle, 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 Belle, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.4%

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

Population
1,537
Median Income
$74,200
Median Home Value
$103,000
Median Age
38.4
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Labor force participation
51.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.4%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,050 residents1,100 residents1,150 residents1,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,155 residents 1,088 residents ▼ -5.8%
Belle'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 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.0%
Carpool
2.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
11.4%
Other
1.7%

Based on 595 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 Belle sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,036/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Daniels
1,542 people
Ronceverte
1,523 people
Marmet
1,520 people
Glen Dale
1,517 people
West Liberty
1,568 people
Prosperity
1,575 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Belle's 1,537 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ucon, ID
1,537 people
Ferndale, PA
1,537 people
East Palatka, FL
1,536 people
Pocahontas, IA
1,536 people
Hill City, KS
1,536 people
Jamesport, NY
1,538 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Belle's $74,200 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Walker Mill, MD
$74,200 median income
Four Corners, FL
$74,202 median income
Middle River, MD
$74,198 median income
Surfside Beach, SC
$74,202 median income
Villas, NJ
$74,203 median income
Plainfield, PA
$74,205 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Belle, 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 Belle, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 96.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.9% White 96.5% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.3% 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 Belle 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
Belle (this city) 1,537 $74,200
Daniels 1,542 $52,100
Ronceverte 1,523 $43,445
Marmet 1,520 $47,620
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Belle, WV?

What is the population of Belle, WV? +

Belle, WV has a population of 1,537 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Belle is $74,200 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Belle? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Belle; 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.

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

Belle's median home value sits at $103,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.