City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Matewan, WV

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

521
Residents
$15,378
Median income
$102,100
Median home
$898
Median rent (state)

Matewan - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Matewan places in the 0th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

0th
percentile, household income
10th
percentile, home value
4th
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: Matewan, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 521 residents in Matewan, a small town within West Virginia. The typical household in Matewan brings in $15,378 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 41.3%. Typical homes in Matewan are valued around $102,100, and the median resident age is 52.6 years. Educational attainment runs 5.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 22.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Matewan (No Permits), per Census BPS 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 $898 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in West Virginia run around $220, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 72.6 out of 100 (High).

Population

521 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$15,378 /yr

Poverty 41.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Matewan compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 0% higher than other cities
Home value 10% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% 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 Matewan 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 Matewan's strongest outlier among West Virginia cities

Among the 389 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Matewan ranks #25 - the 94th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Matewan only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#327 of 330
1st percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#236 of 390
38th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#181 of 337
46th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#25 of 389
94th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#314 of 390
19th 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.

0thIncome percentile

0th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Matewan's home value compares nationally

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

$102,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 90% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Matewan $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 - Matewan, WV Matewan, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Matewan, 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 Matewan, WV median $15,378/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%
Matewan, 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 Matewan, 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) 41.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 22.5%

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

Population
521
Median Income
$15,378
Median Home Value
$102,100
Median Age
52.6
Poverty Rate
41.3%
Labor force participation
22.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.3%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
360 residents380 residents400 residents420 residents 202020212022202320242025 409 residents 370 residents ▼ -9.5%
Matewan'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

Drive Alone
64.4%
Carpool
5.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
30.7%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 101 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 Matewan sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$898/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
72.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Mount Carbon
519 people
Powellton
518 people
Hartford City
529 people
West Milford
529 people
Windsor Heights
511 people
Tioga
509 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Matewan's 521 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hawkeye, IA
521 people
Beaver Creek, MD
521 people
Eckhart Mines, MD
521 people
South Boardman, MI
521 people
Gem Lake, MN
521 people
Cookstown, NJ
521 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Matewan's $15,378 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Coto Laurel comunidad, PR
$15,305 median income
Villa Quintero comunidad, PR
$15,298 median income
Mucarabones comunidad, PR
$15,221 median income
Vieques zona urbana, PR
$15,536 median income
Santa Bárbara comunidad, PR
$15,549 median income
South Mansfield, LA
$15,592 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Matewan, 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 Matewan, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.3% 11.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.2% White 82.3% Black or African American 11.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.2% Two or more races 1.9% 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 Matewan 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
Matewan (this city) 521 $15,378
Mount Carbon 519 N/A
Powellton 518 N/A
Hartford City 529 $54,063
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Matewan, WV?

What is the population of Matewan, WV? +

Matewan, WV counts 521 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Matewan is $15,378 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Matewan? +

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

Homes in Matewan carry a median value of $102,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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