City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

MacArthur, WV

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

1,287
Residents
$26,824
Median income
$126,700
Median home
$944
Median rent (state)

MacArthur - the verdict

MacArthur ranks in the 2nd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
20th
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: MacArthur, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,287 residents in MacArthur, a small town within West Virginia. Median household income here is $26,824 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 20.6%. Home values in MacArthur run a median of $126,700, and the median resident age is 53.8 years. About 3.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 44.7% 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 $944 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $220 across West Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in MacArthur report an average commute of 17.1 minutes, with 92.1% driving alone and 7.9% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 65.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,287 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$26,824 /yr

Poverty 20.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does MacArthur compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 20% 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 MacArthur 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

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places MacArthur toward the bottom of West Virginia's cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, MacArthur ranks #326 - the 16th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares MacArthur only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#310 of 330
6th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#157 of 390
55th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#122 of 337
64th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#104 of 389
73rd percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#326 of 390
16th 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.

2ndIncome percentile

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

How MacArthur's home value compares nationally

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

$126,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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. MacArthur $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 - MacArthur, WV MacArthur, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not MacArthur, 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 MacArthur, WV median $26,824/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%
MacArthur, 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 MacArthur, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 3.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 44.7%

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

Population
1,287
Median Income
$26,824
Median Home Value
$126,700
Median Age
53.8
Poverty Rate
20.6%
Labor force participation
44.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
3.9%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.1 minutes
Drive Alone
92.1%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
7.9%

Based on 496 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 MacArthur 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

Fairlea
1,266 people
Bolivar
1,317 people
Newell
1,252 people
Stanaford
1,327 people
Rainelle
1,334 people
Coal
1,236 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to MacArthur's 1,287 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Wymore, NE
1,287 people
Brookside, NJ
1,287 people
Seven Points, TX
1,287 people
Louisville, IL
1,288 people
Manly, IA
1,288 people
Pleasureville, KY
1,286 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to MacArthur's $26,824 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Onamia, MN
$26,827 median income
White Hills, AZ
$26,836 median income
Lake Timberline, MO
$26,838 median income
El Paraiso comunidad, PR
$26,838 median income
Hughes, AR
$26,850 median income
Rosebud, TX
$26,797 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - MacArthur, 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 MacArthur, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 99.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.2% White 99.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 0.0% 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 MacArthur 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
MacArthur (this city) 1,287 $26,824
Fairlea 1,266 $23,197
Bolivar 1,317 $81,641
Newell 1,252 $38,924
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about MacArthur, WV?

What is the population of MacArthur, WV? +

1,287 people live in MacArthur, WV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

MacArthur households earn a median of $26,824 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in MacArthur? +

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

Homes in MacArthur carry a median value of $126,700, 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

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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.