City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Benwood, WV

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

1,173
Residents
$39,474
Median income
$90,400
Median home
$991
Median rent (state)

Benwood - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Benwood places in the 7th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

7th
percentile, household income
6th
percentile, home value
19th
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: Benwood, WV

1,173 people live in Benwood, West Virginia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Benwood brings in $39,474 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.2%. Home values in Benwood run a median of $90,400, and the median resident age is 47.1 years. 9.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits).

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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $991 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 69.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,173 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$39,474 /yr

Poverty 21.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Benwood compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 6% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% 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 Benwood 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

Poverty Rate places Benwood toward the top of West Virginia's cities

Among the 389 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Benwood ranks #95 - the 75th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Benwood only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#250 of 330
24th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#95 of 390
73rd percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#228 of 337
32nd percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#95 of 389
75th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#276 of 390
29th 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.

7thIncome percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Benwood's home value compares nationally

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

$90,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 94% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Benwood $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 - Benwood, WV Benwood, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Benwood, 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 Benwood, WV median $39,474/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%
Benwood, 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 Benwood, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.2%

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

Population
1,173
Median Income
$39,474
Median Home Value
$90,400
Median Age
47.1
Poverty Rate
21.2%
Labor force participation
65.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.1%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,150 residents1,200 residents1,250 residents1,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,268 residents 1,196 residents ▼ -5.7%
Benwood'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
78.9%
Carpool
13.2%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
4.9%
Work from Home
2.2%
Other
0.6%

Based on 629 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 Benwood sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$991/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Hamlin
1,173 people
Lesage
1,165 people
Alderson
1,182 people
Athens
1,156 people
White Hall
1,141 people
Ansted
1,210 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Benwood's 1,173 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Palo, IA
1,173 people
East Gull Lake, MN
1,173 people
Elm City, NC
1,173 people
Rossville, TN
1,173 people
Sterling City, TX
1,173 people
Crocker, WA
1,173 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Benwood's $39,474 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wellston, MO
$39,474 median income
Vienna, IL
$39,471 median income
Lebanon, KY
$39,483 median income
Dixon, KY
$39,464 median income
Walnut Springs, TX
$39,464 median income
Brownsville, TN
$39,488 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Benwood, 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 Benwood, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.6% 10.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 88.6% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 10.0% 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 Benwood 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
Benwood (this city) 1,173 $39,474
Hamlin 1,173 $56,583
Lesage 1,165 $38,944
Alderson 1,182 $33,794
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Benwood, WV?

What is the population of Benwood, WV? +

The population of Benwood, WV stands at 1,173 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Benwood runs $39,474, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Benwood? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Benwood; 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 Benwood, WV? +

Benwood's median home value sits at $90,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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