City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Fort Gay, WV

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

459
Residents
$27,679
Median income
$58,100
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Fort Gay - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Fort Gay places in the 2nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
12th
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: Fort Gay, WV

459 people live in Fort Gay, West Virginia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $27,679 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 29.7%. Home values in Fort Gay run a median of $58,100, and the median resident age is 47.1 years. 5.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 36.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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 $973 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 79.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

459 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$27,679 /yr

Poverty 29.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Fort Gay compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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 Fort Gay'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.

2ndIncome percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fort Gay's home value compares nationally

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

$58,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $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. Fort Gay $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 - Fort Gay, WV Fort Gay, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fort Gay, 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 Fort Gay, WV median $27,679/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%
Fort Gay, 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 Fort Gay, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 29.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 36.7%

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

Population
459
Median Income
$27,679
Median Home Value
$58,100
Median Age
47.1
Poverty Rate
29.7%
Labor force participation
36.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.3%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
650 residents660 residents670 residents680 residents 202020212022202320242025 676 residents 654 residents ▼ -3.3%
Fort Gay's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.8%
Carpool
5.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.4%
Other
4.2%

Based on 143 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 Fort Gay sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.8 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Dupont
455 people
Pineville
463 people
Delbarton
466 people
Gauley Bridge
466 people
Racine
451 people
Cedar Grove
468 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Gay's 459 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bangor, CA
459 people
Westcliffe, CO
459 people
Kimmell, IN
459 people
Kandiyohi, MN
459 people
New Augusta, MS
459 people
La Madera CDP (Sandoval County), NM
459 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Gay's $27,679 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Young Harris, GA
$27,692 median income
Lassalle comunidad, PR
$27,700 median income
Milan, GA
$27,656 median income
Gibson, NC
$27,649 median income
Seven Mile Ford, VA
$27,716 median income
Reeds, MO
$27,639 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fort Gay, 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 Fort Gay, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 97.6% 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 2.4% 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 Fort Gay 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
Fort Gay (this city) 459 $27,679
Dupont 455 $39,286
Pineville 463 $42,037
Delbarton 466 $39,167
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fort Gay, WV?

What is the population of Fort Gay, WV? +

Fort Gay, WV has a population of 459 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fort Gay, WV? +

Median annual household income in Fort Gay runs $27,679, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fort Gay? +

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

A typical home in Fort Gay is worth $58,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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