Town · West Virginia
Marlinton, West Virginia
Marlinton, town, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Marlinton had 945 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 998 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,201 (±229). GEOID 5451676.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
945
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 998 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,201 ±229
Median household income
$37,273
±$7,255 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$93,900
±$17,994 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$722
±$28 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is Marlinton and what county is it in?
Marlinton is a town in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. It covers 2.4 square miles of land, 425 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Marlinton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 945 people lived in Marlinton on July 1, 2025, down 3.8% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 998 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,201 (±229).
| Measure | Marlinton | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,201 ±229 | 7,784 | no clear change |
| Households | 500 ±96 | 3,181 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.26 ±0.35 | 2.34 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 653 ±118 | 6,834 | no clear change |
Marlinton's population since 2000
From 1,204 in 2000 to 945 in 2025: down 21.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Marlinton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Marlinton?
The median resident of Marlinton is 42.5 years old; 18.3% are under 18 and 24.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.1%.
| Measure | Marlinton | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 ±13.6 | 49.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.3% ±5.8 pts | 17.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.5% ±5.1 pts | 27.1% | – |
| Male | 51.3% ±4.9 pts | 52.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.1% ±8.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.8% ±8.2 pts | 93.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.9 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±1.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.3% ±3.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.3% ±1.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.5% ±4.5 pts | 11.8% | – |
| With a disability | 25.9% ±8.6 pts | 22.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4% ±4.9 pts | 6.1% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.4% ±5.2 pts | 85.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.0% ±6.3 pts | 19.7% | +8.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.7% ±4.8 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.9% ±8.1 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±1.4 pts | 1.9% | – |
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 Marlinton earn?
Half of Marlinton's 500 households earn less than $37,273 a year (±$7,255), against $42,119 in Pocahontas County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $38,899 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 34.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Marlinton | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $37,273 ±$7,255 | $42,119 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $43,254 ±$7,354 | $57,278 | – |
| Per capita income | $22,245 ±$7,686 | $24,646 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 34.9% ±10.1 pts | 22.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 47.3% ±25.0 pts | 26.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 27.2% ±9.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.6% ±3.0 pts | 80.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.8% ±4.7 pts | 74.6% | – |
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 Marlinton?
Owners occupy 60.0% of Marlinton's occupied homes and renters 40.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $93,900 by its owner (±$17,994). The median renter pays $722 a month including utilities, and 60.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Marlinton | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $93,900 ±$17,994 | $152,400 | +$24,120 |
| Median gross rent | $722 ±$28 | $715 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 60.3% ±19.2 pts | 36.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $973 ±$142 | $1,090 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.0% ±10.1 pts | 83.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.0% ±10.1 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Housing units | 653 ±118 | 6,834 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3% ±2.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±17.0 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.4% ±9.2 pts | 63.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.4% ±3.4 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±5.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.4% ±8.4 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.0% ±5.6 pts | 6.5% | – |
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 many new homes is Marlinton building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units in Marlinton in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 5.3 per 1,000 residents against 2.2 across West Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Marlinton work and get to work?
56.9% of Marlinton's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 18.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 21.9%.
| Measure | Marlinton | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.6% ±6.2 pts | 43.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 21.9% ±11.4 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 56.9% ±14.5 pts | 74.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 24.5% ±17.7 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±8.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 11.8% ±9.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.6% ±5.9 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 18.1 min ±4.0 | 22.8 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 Marlinton?
No census tract lies mostly in Marlinton; 3 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9602.02Pocahontas County | 1,630 | $45,000 |
| Tract 9602.01Pocahontas County | 1,722 | $33,430 |
| Tract 9603Pocahontas County | 2,022 | $52,465 |
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 Marlinton) · Census block assignment files
How does Marlinton compare with other places in West Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Marlinton is the 10,520th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 103rd-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.
Marlinton is not ranked by income or the other survey measures: those rankings include places of 1,000 or more residents (2020 Census) with a reliable estimate.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 103rd | 230 |
Marlinton's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Marlinton 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 Marlinton?
20 of the 57 figures for Marlinton 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 Marlinton 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' public schools in Marlinton.