City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Carolina, WV

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

188
Residents
$19,188
Median income
$80,500
Median home
$1,007
Median rent (state)

Carolina - the verdict

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

1st
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
20th
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: Carolina, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 188 residents in Carolina, a small town within West Virginia. Median household income here is $19,188 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 62.1%. Home values in Carolina run a median of $80,500, and the median resident age is 32.8 years. About 21.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 32.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, West Virginia scores 89.5 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,007 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in West Virginia run around $220, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Carolina workers runs 17.1 minutes, with 100.0% driving alone and 0.0% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 71.5 out of 100 (High).

Population

188 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$19,188 /yr

Poverty 62.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Carolina compare to other US cities?

Carolina measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 1% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% 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 Carolina'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.

1stIncome percentile

1st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Carolina's home value compares nationally

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

$80,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% 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. Carolina $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 - Carolina, WV Carolina, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Carolina, 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 Carolina, WV median $19,188/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%
Carolina, 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 Carolina, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 62.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 32.7%

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

Population
188
Median Income
$19,188
Median Home Value
$80,500
Median Age
32.8
Poverty Rate
62.1%
Labor force participation
32.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.1 minutes
Drive Alone
100.0%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 56 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 Carolina sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,007/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
71.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Rossmore
186 people
Ellenboro
184 people
Sylvester
192 people
Frank
193 people
Reedy
182 people
Elk Garden
195 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Carolina's 188 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kellyton, AL
188 people
Dell, AR
188 people
Greenhorn, CA
188 people
Volta, CA
188 people
Atwood, CO
188 people
Murphy, ID
188 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Carolina's $19,188 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Antelope, SD
$19,176 median income
Roper, NC
$19,155 median income
St. Mary of the Woods, IN
$19,141 median income
South Weldon, NC
$19,250 median income
Pheba, MS
$19,118 median income
Prairie View, TX
$19,106 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Carolina, 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 Carolina, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.0% 9.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 91.0% 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 9.0% 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 Carolina 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
Carolina (this city) 188 $19,188
Rossmore 186 $33,833
Ellenboro 184 $72,969
Sylvester 192 $70,156
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Carolina, WV?

What is the population of Carolina, WV? +

Carolina, WV has a population of 188 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Carolina, the typical household earns $19,188 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Carolina? +

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

A typical home in Carolina is worth $80,500, 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.