City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Petersburg, WV

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

3,172
Residents
$48,286
Median income
$136,100
Median home
$869
Median rent (state)

Petersburg - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Petersburg places in the 17th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

17th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
2nd
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: Petersburg, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,172 residents in Petersburg, a small town within West Virginia. Median household income here is $48,286 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.1%. Home values in Petersburg run a median of $136,100, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. About 23.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Petersburg (Construction Slowdown), down 98% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. NOAA puts Petersburg's yearly average temperature at 54.7°F with 40.3 inches of precipitation per year.

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 $869 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 33.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

3,172 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$48,286 /yr

Poverty 9.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Petersburg compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 2% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Petersburg's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in West Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

17thIncome percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Petersburg's home value compares nationally

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

$136,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Petersburg $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 - Petersburg, WV Petersburg, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Petersburg, 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 Petersburg, WV median $48,286/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%
Petersburg, 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 Petersburg, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.4%

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

Population
3,172
Median Income
$48,286
Median Home Value
$136,100
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Labor force participation
55.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.7%

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.7°F
Annual Precipitation
40.3"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

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 →
2,270 residents2,280 residents2,290 residents2,300 residents2,310 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,298 residents 2,282 residents ▼ -0.7%
Petersburg's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 41
2020 1
2021 8
2022 8
2023 7
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 98% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
89.7%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
2.2%
Other
2.6%

Based on 1,326 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 Petersburg sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$869/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
33.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Culloden
3,158 people
Blennerhassett
3,229 people
Ripley
3,066 people
Kingwood
2,980 people
Williamson
2,979 people
Kenova
2,977 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Petersburg's 3,172 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cuba, MO
3,172 people
Annetta, TX
3,172 people
Country Club, MO
3,171 people
Blue Earth, MN
3,170 people
Millersburg, OH
3,170 people
Corning, AR
3,169 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Petersburg's $48,286 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

West Burlington, IA
$48,289 median income
Midvale, ID
$48,281 median income
Brandenburg, KY
$48,281 median income
Otterville, MO
$48,281 median income
Orchard, NE
$48,281 median income
Romulus, NY
$48,281 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Petersburg, 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 Petersburg, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.7% White 94.2% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.2% 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 Petersburg 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
Petersburg (this city) 3,172 $48,286
Culloden 3,158 $89,519
Blennerhassett 3,229 $85,619
Ripley 3,066 $35,120
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Petersburg, WV?

What is the population of Petersburg, WV? +

3,172 people live in Petersburg, WV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Petersburg households earn a median of $48,286 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Petersburg? +

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

Petersburg's median home value sits at $136,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Petersburg? +

Petersburg has an average annual temperature of 54.7°F, 40.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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 Editorial

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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.