City · West Virginia
Ripley, West Virginia
Ripley, city, in Jackson County, West Virginia. Ripley had 3,038 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,079 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,071 (±16). GEOID 5468596.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,038
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,079 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,071 ±16
Median household income
$41,518
±$14,399 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$121,800
±$23,343 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$613
±$230 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is Ripley and what county is it in?
Ripley is a city in Jackson County, West Virginia. It covers 3.2 square miles of land, 955 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 Ripley, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,038 people lived in Ripley on July 1, 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, in line with West Virginia (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 3,079 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,071 (±16).
| Measure | Ripley | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,071 ±16 | 27,705 | −112 |
| Households | 1,485 ±216 | 11,515 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.00 ±0.29 | 2.39 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,644 ±221 | 12,867 | no clear change |
Ripley's population since 2000
From 3,263 in 2000 to 3,038 in 2025: down 6.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ripley 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 Ripley?
The median resident of Ripley is 44.0 years old; 17.0% are under 18 and 21.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.7%.
| Measure | Ripley | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 ±10.3 | 43.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.0% ±6.8 pts | 21.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.2% ±6.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Male | 53.6% ±7.1 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4% ±2.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.1% ±5.2 pts | 95.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±3.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±2.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.5% ±1.7 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.9% ±4.9 pts | 8.8% | – |
| With a disability | 23.2% ±8.6 pts | 22.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.8% ±3.5 pts | 6.2% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.3% ±6.4 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.4% ±9.4 pts | 19.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.1% ±7.2 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.4% ±5.1 pts | 92.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
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 Ripley earn?
Half of Ripley's 1,485 households earn less than $41,518 a year (±$14,399), against $58,845 in Jackson County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $40,613 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ripley | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,518 ±$14,399 | $58,845 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $61,051 ±$16,245 | $81,933 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,309 ±$7,006 | $34,967 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.1% ±12.9 pts | 18.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 44.1% ±31.0 pts | 25.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 24.6% ±10.5 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 84.4% ±8.8 pts | 82.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.1% ±9.3 pts | 77.1% | – |
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 Ripley?
Owners occupy 60.5% of Ripley's occupied homes and renters 39.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,800 by its owner (±$23,343). The median renter pays $613 a month including utilities, and 45.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ripley | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $121,800 ±$23,343 | $157,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $613 ±$230 | $716 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.5% ±25.5 pts | 42.0% | +32.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $993 ±$164 | $1,101 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.5% ±9.6 pts | 78.6% | +17.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.5% ±9.6 pts | 21.4% | – |
| Housing units | 1,644 ±221 | 12,867 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±6.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.2% ±10.1 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.5% ±5.6 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.1% ±6.3 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.4% ±6.0 pts | 11.2% | – |
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 Ripley building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Ripley 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 Ripley work and get to work?
78.1% of Ripley's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.7 minutes.
| Measure | Ripley | Jackson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.3% ±10.7 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.2% ±5.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 78.1% ±11.7 pts | 78.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 11.6% ±10.5 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.3% ±8.2 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.7 min ±4.9 | 28.6 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 Ripley?
1 census tract lies mostly in Ripley, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9636Jackson County | 4,430 | $44,901 |
| Tract 9635Jackson County | 3,202 | $68,920 |
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 Ripley) · Census block assignment files
How does Ripley compare with other places in West Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ripley is the 6,298th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 38th-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.
Ripley ranks 112th 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 | 38th | 230 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 20th | 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 94th | 146 |
| Median household income | 112th | 138 |
| Per capita income | 80th | 144 |
| Median home value | 86th | 142 |
| Median gross rent | 115th | 123 |
| Poverty rate | 31st | 111 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 66th | 135 |
| Median age | 60th | 146 |
| Owner-occupied share | 110th | 146 |
| Travel time to work | 65th | 145 |
Ripley's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Ripley 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 Ripley?
24 of the 57 figures for Ripley 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 Ripley 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 Ripley.