Census-designated place · West Virginia
Cheat Lake, West Virginia
Cheat Lake, census-designated place, in Monongalia County, West Virginia. Cheat Lake had 10,902 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±787). GEOID 5414775.
Residents, 2020-2024
10,902
±787 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 9,930
Median household income
$117,014
±$19,407 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$367,600
±$24,716 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$1,124
±$247 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is Cheat Lake and what county is it in?
Cheat Lake is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It covers 14.3 square miles of land, 692 residents per square mile in 2020.
Cheat Lake is in the Morgantown, WV metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Cheat Lake, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Cheat Lake's population at 10,902 (±787). The 2020 Census counted 9,930 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Cheat Lake is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Cheat Lake | Monongalia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,902 ±787 | 107,163 | +1,651 |
| Households | 4,423 ±376 | 44,629 | +1,061 |
| Average household size | 2.46 ±0.17 | 2.26 | −0.29 |
| Housing units | 4,758 ±371 | 49,932 | +1,243 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Cheat Lake?
The median resident of Cheat Lake is 40.6 years old; 23.1% are under 18 and 17.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.8%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 2.9%. 4.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Cheat Lake | Monongalia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 ±4.3 | 32.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.1% ±2.7 pts | 16.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.3% ±2.6 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Male | 50.2% ±2.5 pts | 51.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.8% ±2.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.8% ±4.1 pts | 85.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±2.2 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±1.6 pts | 3.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.4% ±2.0 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.4% ±2.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.7% ±1.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 10.0% ±2.8 pts | 12.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.9% ±1.7 pts | 5.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.0% ±1.2 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 61.8% ±5.9 pts | 48.9% | +7.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 41.4% ±5.3 pts | 26.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.5% ±4.0 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2% ±3.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Cheat Lake earn?
Half of Cheat Lake's 4,423 households earn less than $117,014 a year (±$19,407), against $65,346 in Monongalia County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $109,913 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cheat Lake | Monongalia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $117,014 ±$19,407 | $65,346 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $164,973 ±$19,397 | $97,594 | – |
| Per capita income | $67,787 ±$6,910 | $42,045 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.5% ±3.2 pts | 19.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.9% ±6.2 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.7% ±2.5 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.4% ±3.9 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.5% ±3.7 pts | 90.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Cheat Lake?
Owners occupy 83.2% of Cheat Lake's occupied homes and renters 16.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $367,600 by its owner (±$24,716). The median renter pays $1,124 a month including utilities, and 40.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Cheat Lake | Monongalia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $367,600 ±$24,716 | $267,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,124 ±$247 | $987 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.4% ±17.6 pts | 46.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,136 ±$269 | $1,557 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.2% ±4.9 pts | 57.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.8% ±4.9 pts | 42.1% | – |
| Housing units | 4,758 ±371 | 49,932 | +1,243 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0% ±1.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.6% ±4.6 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.6% ±4.3 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.1% ±2.6 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 6.7% ±2.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.0% ±3.9 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.3% ±3.7 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.3% ±2.2 pts | 7.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Cheat Lake work and get to work?
78.7% of Cheat Lake's workers drive alone and 13.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.8 minutes.
| Measure | Cheat Lake | Monongalia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.1% ±4.0 pts | 63.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.2% ±1.8 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 78.7% ±4.9 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.2% ±2.9 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.8% ±3.6 pts | 13.4% | +7.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.8 min ±2.1 | 21.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Cheat Lake?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Cheat Lake, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $98,594 (Tract 117) to $133,004 (Tract 118.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 118.06Monongalia County | 6,610 | $133,004 |
| Tract 117Monongalia County | 4,844 | $98,594 |
| Tract 118.05Monongalia County | 4,842 | $79,315 |
| Tract 108Monongalia County | 5,050 | $52,159 |
| Tract 116.02Monongalia County | 4,607 | $51,694 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Cheat Lake) · Census block assignment files
How does Cheat Lake compare with other places in West Virginia?
Cheat Lake ranks 1st of 138 places in West Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 13th | 146 |
| Residents per square mile | 110th | 146 |
| Median household income | 1st | 138 |
| Per capita income | 1st | 144 |
| Median home value | 3rd | 142 |
| Median gross rent | 11th | 123 |
| Poverty rate | 106th | 111 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2nd | 135 |
| Median age | 94th | 146 |
| Owner-occupied share | 28th | 146 |
| Work from home | 14th | 53 |
| Travel time to work | 57th | 145 |
Cheat Lake's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Cheat Lake with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Cheat Lake?
15 of the 57 figures for Cheat Lake on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Cheat Lake are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.