City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Bluewell, WV

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

2,281
Residents
$35,599
Median income
$137,800
Median home
$896
Median rent (state)

Bluewell - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Bluewell lands in the 5th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

5th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
4th
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: Bluewell, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,281 residents in Bluewell, a small town within West Virginia. Bluewell households earn a median of $35,599 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 27.2%. Home values in Bluewell run a median of $137,800, and the median resident age is 62.9 years. 13.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 27.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: the state registers 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $896 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in West Virginia run around $220, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Bluewell workers runs 26.3 minutes, with 86.7% driving alone and 2.0% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 65.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

2,281 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$35,599 /yr

Poverty 27.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Bluewell compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% 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

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 Bluewell'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.

5thIncome percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bluewell's home value compares nationally

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

$137,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Bluewell $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 - Bluewell, WV Bluewell, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bluewell, 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 Bluewell, WV median $35,599/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%
Bluewell, 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 Bluewell, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 27.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 27.0%

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

Population
2,281
Median Income
$35,599
Median Home Value
$137,800
Median Age
62.9
Poverty Rate
27.2%
Labor force participation
27.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.8%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
26.3 minutes
Drive Alone
86.7%
Carpool
11.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
2.0%

Based on 550 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 Bluewell sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$896/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
65.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Stonewood
2,273 people
Mullens
2,267 people
Chester
2,302 people
Shinnston
2,198 people
Wellsburg
2,364 people
Falling Waters
2,384 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bluewell's 2,281 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Haynesville, LA
2,281 people
Shelter Island, NY
2,281 people
Lake, AR
2,280 people
Hughesville, MD
2,280 people
North Beach Haven, NJ
2,282 people
New Miami, OH
2,280 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bluewell's $35,599 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Frisco City, AL
$35,602 median income
Green City, MO
$35,602 median income
Waco, GA
$35,603 median income
Red Bay, AL
$35,587 median income
Natchez, MS
$35,613 median income
West Canton, NC
$35,583 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bluewell, 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 Bluewell, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.3% 6.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 93.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.8% 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 Bluewell 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
Bluewell (this city) 2,281 $35,599
Stonewood 2,273 $44,967
Mullens 2,267 $65,625
Chester 2,302 $63,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bluewell, WV?

What is the population of Bluewell, WV? +

The population of Bluewell, WV stands at 2,281 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Bluewell, the typical household earns $35,599 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bluewell? +

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

Homes in Bluewell carry a median value of $137,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.