City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Lester, WV

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

492
Residents
$30,000
Median income
$81,500
Median home
$944
Median rent (state)

Lester - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lester places in the 3rd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

3rd
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
10th
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: Lester, WV

492 people live in Lester, West Virginia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Lester households earn a median of $30,000 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 46.2%. Typical homes in Lester are valued around $81,500, and the median resident age is 50.4 years. About 12.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 31.9% 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: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, West Virginia scores 89.5 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $944 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in West Virginia run around $220, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Lester report an average commute of 44.9 minutes, with 85.0% driving alone and 7.1% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 65.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

492 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$30,000 /yr

Poverty 46.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Lester compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% 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 Lester 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 is Lester's strongest outlier among West Virginia cities

Among the 389 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Lester ranks #20 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lester only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#296 of 330
10th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#157 of 390
55th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#262 of 337
22nd percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#20 of 389
95th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#241 of 390
38th 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.

3rdIncome percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lester's home value compares nationally

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

$81,500 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. Lester $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 - Lester, WV Lester, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lester, 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 Lester, WV median $30,000/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%
Lester, 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 Lester, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 46.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 31.9%

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

Population
492
Median Income
$30,000
Median Home Value
$81,500
Median Age
50.4
Poverty Rate
46.2%
Labor force participation
31.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.0%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
325 residents330 residents335 residents340 residents345 residents 202020212022202320242025 343 residents 331 residents ▼ -3.5%
Lester'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

Average Commute Time
44.9 minutes
Drive Alone
85.0%
Carpool
8.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
7.1%

Based on 113 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 Lester sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$944/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
65.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Burnsville
493 people
Masontown
490 people
Boomer
488 people
Big Chimney
497 people
Clay
485 people
Springfield
485 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lester's 492 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East Fork, AZ
492 people
Granada, CO
492 people
Wilsonville, IL
492 people
Spring Grove, IN
492 people
Strong City, KS
492 people
Uniontown, KS
492 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lester's $30,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Camp Hill, AL
$30,000 median income
Pace, MS
$30,000 median income
Eminence, MO
$30,000 median income
Wheaton, MO
$30,000 median income
Corning, OH
$30,000 median income
Wauhillau, OK
$30,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lester, 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 Lester, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.1% 7.3% 12.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.4% White 80.1% Black or African American 7.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 12.6% 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 Lester 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
Lester (this city) 492 $30,000
Burnsville 493 $83,095
Masontown 490 $50,938
Boomer 488 $27,875
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lester, WV?

What is the population of Lester, WV? +

492 people live in Lester, WV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Lester runs $30,000, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lester? +

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

A typical home in Lester is worth $81,500, 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.