City · West Virginia
McMechen, West Virginia
McMechen, city, in Marshall County, West Virginia. McMechen had 1,605 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 5.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,697 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,826 (±300). GEOID 5450260.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,605
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,697 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,826 ±300
Median household income
$40,446
±$9,458 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$96,900
±$13,186 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$625
±$307 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is McMechen and what county is it in?
McMechen is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia. It covers 0.6 square miles of land, 2,972 residents per square mile in 2020.
McMechen is in the Wheeling, WV-OH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in McMechen, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,605 people lived in McMechen on July 1, 2025, down 5.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 1,697 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,826 (±300).
| Measure | McMechen | Marshall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,826 ±300 | 29,865 | no clear change |
| Households | 719 ±94 | 12,487 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.53 ±0.36 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 882 ±105 | 14,701 | no clear change |
McMechen's population since 2000
From 1,937 in 2000 to 1,605 in 2025: down 17.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for McMechen 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 McMechen?
The median resident of McMechen is 33.7 years old; 30.0% are under 18 and 15.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 13.5%.
| Measure | McMechen | Marshall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 ±2.5 | 46.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 30.0% ±7.0 pts | 19.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.6% ±3.5 pts | 23.8% | – |
| Male | 52.5% ±5.7 pts | 51.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.3% ±7.2 pts | 92.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 13.5% ±7.3 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.5% ±1.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±3.0 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 21.5% ±5.5 pts | 19.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.9% ±4.3 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.4% ±4.6 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.7% ±6.4 pts | 20.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.3% ±1.8 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.3% ±9.1 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.3% ±6.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
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 McMechen earn?
Half of McMechen's 719 households earn less than $40,446 a year (±$9,458), against $59,169 in Marshall County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $50,766 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McMechen | Marshall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $40,446 ±$9,458 | $59,169 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $59,820 ±$10,616 | $78,395 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,782 ±$4,281 | $34,200 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.5% ±8.3 pts | 16.8% | +11.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 40.3% ±17.6 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 31.6% ±9.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.1% ±4.0 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.0% ±6.3 pts | 85.7% | – |
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 McMechen?
Owners occupy 64.1% of McMechen's occupied homes and renters 35.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,900 by its owner (±$13,186). The median renter pays $625 a month including utilities, and 51.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | McMechen | Marshall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $96,900 ±$13,186 | $149,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $625 ±$307 | $837 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.4% ±21.6 pts | 47.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $921 ±$53 | $1,147 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.1% ±11.5 pts | 78.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.9% ±11.5 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Housing units | 882 ±105 | 14,701 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±7.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.8% ±7.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.7% ±7.1 pts | 81.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% ±2.1 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±4.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.6% ±0.8 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 53.9% ±7.9 pts | 27.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.3% ±7.1 pts | 7.9% | – |
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 McMechen building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in McMechen in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 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 McMechen work and get to work?
76.8% of McMechen's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.9 minutes.
| Measure | McMechen | Marshall County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.1% ±6.3 pts | 53.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.5% ±7.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.8% ±7.8 pts | 79.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.9% ±6.4 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±1.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 1.5% ±1.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.4% ±4.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.9 min ±3.7 | 24.6 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 McMechen?
1 census tract lies mostly in McMechen, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 206.01Marshall County | 2,075 | $42,321 |
| Tract 211Marshall County | 4,935 | $68,878 |
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 McMechen) · Census block assignment files
How does McMechen compare with other places in West Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, McMechen is the 8,511th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 65th-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.
McMechen ranks 115th of 138 places in West Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 65th | 230 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 62nd | 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 7th | 146 |
| Median household income | 115th | 138 |
| Per capita income | 118th | 144 |
| Median home value | 114th | 142 |
| Median gross rent | 110th | 123 |
| Poverty rate | 28th | 111 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 120th | 135 |
| Median age | 135th | 146 |
| Owner-occupied share | 99th | 146 |
| Travel time to work | 63rd | 145 |
McMechen's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare McMechen 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 McMechen?
19 of the 57 figures for McMechen 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 McMechen 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 McMechen.