City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

McMechen, WV

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

1,735
Residents
$42,863
Median income
$89,500
Median home
$991
Median rent (state)

McMechen - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, McMechen lands in the 11th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

11th
percentile, household income
6th
percentile, home value
19th
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: McMechen, WV

West Virginia's McMechen is a small town, with 1,735 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in McMechen brings in $42,863 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.0%. Home values in McMechen run a median of $89,500, and the median resident age is 33.4 years. About 14.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 3 residential building permits were authorized in McMechen (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts West Virginia at 89.5 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $991 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 56.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,735 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$42,863 /yr

Poverty 25.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does McMechen compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 11% higher than other cities
Home value 6% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% 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 McMechen 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 places McMechen toward the top of West Virginia's cities

Among the 389 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, McMechen ranks #73 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares McMechen only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#234 of 330
29th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#95 of 390
73rd percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#233 of 337
31st percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#73 of 389
81st percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#202 of 390
48th 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.

11thIncome percentile

11th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How McMechen's home value compares nationally

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

$89,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 94% 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. McMechen $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 - McMechen, WV McMechen, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not McMechen, 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 McMechen, WV median $42,863/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%
McMechen, 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 McMechen, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.2%

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

Population
1,735
Median Income
$42,863
Median Home Value
$89,500
Median Age
33.4
Poverty Rate
25.0%
Labor force participation
56.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.5%

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 →
1,550 residents1,600 residents1,650 residents1,700 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,687 residents 1,605 residents ▼ -4.9%
McMechen's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 2
2024 3

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.2%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
3.4%
Other
3.4%

Based on 706 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 McMechen sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$991/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
56.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

New Haven
1,735 people
Logan
1,736 people
Romney
1,714 people
Mannington
1,679 people
Salem
1,812 people
Eleanor
1,655 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to McMechen's 1,735 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Itta Bena, MS
1,735 people
Burnham, PA
1,735 people
Durand, WI
1,735 people
Toro Canyon, CA
1,736 people
Westmorland, CA
1,734 people
Crystal Falls, MI
1,734 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to McMechen's $42,863 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Girard, OH
$42,861 median income
Warsaw, MO
$42,868 median income
Oak Hill, OH
$42,857 median income
South Renovo, PA
$42,857 median income
Slater-Marietta, SC
$42,857 median income
Chickasaw, AL
$42,854 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - McMechen, 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 McMechen, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.3% 12.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 86.3% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 12.8% 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 McMechen 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
McMechen (this city) 1,735 $42,863
New Haven 1,735 $56,500
Logan 1,736 $31,100
Romney 1,714 $39,118
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about McMechen, WV?

What is the population of McMechen, WV? +

1,735 people live in McMechen, WV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In McMechen, the typical household earns $42,863 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in McMechen? +

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

A typical home in McMechen is worth $89,500, 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.