City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Paw Paw, WV

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

440
Residents
$62,500
Median income
$83,900
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

Paw Paw - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Paw Paw places in the 39th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

39th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
11th
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: Paw Paw, WV

West Virginia's Paw Paw is a small town, with 440 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $62,500 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.7%. Typical homes in Paw Paw are valued around $83,900, and the median resident age is 47.2 years. Educational attainment runs 5.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 47.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Paw Paw (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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $961 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 30.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

440 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$62,500 /yr

Poverty 2.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Paw Paw compare to other US cities?

Where Paw Paw sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 39% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% 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 Paw Paw 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 Paw Paw toward the bottom of West Virginia's cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Paw Paw ranks #316 - the 19th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Paw Paw only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#91 of 330
72nd percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#131 of 390
65th percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#249 of 337
26th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#290 of 389
25th percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#316 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.

39thIncome percentile

39th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Paw Paw's home value compares nationally

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

$83,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% 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. Paw Paw $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 - Paw Paw, WV Paw Paw, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Paw Paw, 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 Paw Paw, WV median $62,500/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%
Paw Paw, 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 Paw Paw, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 5.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.9%

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

Population
440
Median Income
$62,500
Median Home Value
$83,900
Median Age
47.2
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Labor force participation
47.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
5.2%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
408 residents410 residents412 residents414 residents416 residents418 residents 202020212022202320242025 411 residents 416 residents ▲ +1.2%
Paw Paw's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 1
2024 2

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.1%
Carpool
13.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
3.3%

Based on 151 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 Paw Paw sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
30.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Gatewood
443 people
Prichard
434 people
Valley Grove
448 people
Farmington
431 people
Racine
451 people
Charlton Heights
428 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Paw Paw's 440 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Tees Toh, AZ
440 people
Traskwood, AR
440 people
Eldora, CO
440 people
Sea Ranch Lakes, FL
440 people
Conesville, IA
440 people
Brewster, KS
440 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Paw Paw's $62,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Industry, CA
$62,500 median income
Buncombe, IL
$62,500 median income
Colchester, IL
$62,500 median income
Shipman, IL
$62,500 median income
Billtown, IN
$62,500 median income
Boonville, IN
$62,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Paw Paw, 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 Paw Paw, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.5% 9.1% 10.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.0% White 77.5% Black or African American 9.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.0% Two or more races 10.4% 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 Paw Paw 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
Paw Paw (this city) 440 $62,500
Gatewood 443 $73,914
Prichard 434 $90,795
Valley Grove 448 $54,028
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Paw Paw, WV?

What is the population of Paw Paw, WV? +

Paw Paw, WV has a population of 440 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Paw Paw runs $62,500, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Paw Paw? +

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

The median home value in Paw Paw is $83,900, 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.