City · West Virginia
Pennsboro, West Virginia
Pennsboro, city, in Ritchie County, West Virginia. Pennsboro had 987 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 6.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,054 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,334 (±290). GEOID 5462764.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
987
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,054 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,334 ±290
Median household income
$51,327
±$5,770 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$86,500
±$23,838 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$811
±$327 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is Pennsboro and what county is it in?
Pennsboro is a city in Ritchie County, West Virginia. It covers 2.7 square miles of land, 391 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 Pennsboro, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 987 people lived in Pennsboro on July 1, 2025, down 6.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 1,054 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,334 (±290).
| Measure | Pennsboro | Ritchie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,334 ±290 | 8,286 | no clear change |
| Households | 489 ±92 | 3,389 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.73 ±0.36 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 563 ±98 | 4,176 | no clear change |
Pennsboro's population since 2000
From 1,199 in 2000 to 987 in 2025: down 17.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro?
The median resident of Pennsboro is 32.9 years old; 23.1% are under 18 and 17.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 97.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 1.5%.
| Measure | Pennsboro | Ritchie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 ±5.2 | 46.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.1% ±5.7 pts | 19.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.8% ±6.2 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Male | 44.7% ±4.2 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 97.8% ±3.4 pts | 96.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±1.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±2.3 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.7% ±1.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.7% ±7.5 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6% ±4.0 pts | 7.0% | – |
| With a disability | 26.2% ±7.3 pts | 25.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9% ±2.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 72.4% ±10.5 pts | 85.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.5% ±6.3 pts | 14.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.0% ±3.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.6% ±3.2 pts | 95.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
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 Pennsboro earn?
Half of Pennsboro's 489 households earn less than $51,327 a year (±$5,770), against $50,582 in Ritchie County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $51,426 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Pennsboro | Ritchie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,327 ±$5,770 | $50,582 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $66,788 ±$12,346 | $67,031 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,890 ±$4,753 | $27,681 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.2% ±10.3 pts | 21.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.0% ±17.8 pts | 26.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.7% ±10.2 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 89.2% ±6.1 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.4% ±7.9 pts | 80.7% | – |
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 Pennsboro?
Owners occupy 74.6% of Pennsboro's occupied homes and renters 25.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $86,500 by its owner (±$23,838). The median renter pays $811 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Pennsboro | Ritchie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $86,500 ±$23,838 | $115,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $811 ±$327 | $579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.9% ±35.2 pts | 42.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,073 ±$75 | $1,038 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.6% ±8.8 pts | 84.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.4% ±8.8 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Housing units | 563 ±98 | 4,176 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±9.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.1% ±9.8 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.2% ±12.4 pts | 71.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.1% ±12.7 pts | 23.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±6.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.1% ±1.8 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 32.1% ±10.4 pts | 21.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.4% ±4.5 pts | 6.8% | – |
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 Pennsboro building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro work and get to work?
72.0% of Pennsboro's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 31.4 minutes.
| Measure | Pennsboro | Ritchie County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 51.2% ±8.1 pts | 47.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±2.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 72.0% ±18.9 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 22.2% ±19.3 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±6.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 2.1% ±2.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 2.6% ±2.9 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.4 min ±6.1 | 33.0 min | +8.9 min |
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 Pennsboro?
No census tract lies mostly in Pennsboro; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9623Ritchie County | 3,297 | $61,875 |
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 Pennsboro) · Census block assignment files
How does Pennsboro compare with other places in West Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Pennsboro is the 10,307th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 100th-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.
Pennsboro ranks 81st 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 | 100th | 230 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 89th | 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 127th | 146 |
| Median household income | 81st | 138 |
| Per capita income | 124th | 144 |
| Median home value | 127th | 142 |
| Median gross rent | 71st | 123 |
| Poverty rate | 52nd | 111 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 125th | 135 |
| Median age | 137th | 146 |
| Owner-occupied share | 53rd | 146 |
| Travel time to work | 16th | 145 |
Pennsboro's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro?
23 of the 57 figures for Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro.