City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Shinnston, WV

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

2,198
Residents
$63,750
Median income
$135,500
Median home
$1,007
Median rent (state)

Shinnston - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Shinnston lands in the 41st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

41st
percentile, household income
22nd
percentile, home value
20th
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: Shinnston, WV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,198 residents in Shinnston, a small town within West Virginia. Median household income here is $63,750 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.4%. Shinnston's housing stock carries a median value of $135,500, and the median resident age is 43.6 years. Educational attainment runs 21.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 56.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 2 residential building permits were authorized in Shinnston (Construction Slowdown), down 50% from five years earlier, 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 $1,007 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in West Virginia run around $220, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 71.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

2,198 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$63,750 /yr

Poverty 11.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Shinnston compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 22% pricier than other cities
Median rent 20% 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 Shinnston'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.

41stIncome percentile

41st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Shinnston's home value compares nationally

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

$135,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 78% 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. Shinnston $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 - Shinnston, WV Shinnston, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Shinnston, 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 Shinnston, WV median $63,750/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%
Shinnston, 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 Shinnston, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.6%

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

Population
2,198
Median Income
$63,750
Median Home Value
$135,500
Median Age
43.6
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Labor force participation
56.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.3%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,200 residents2,250 residents2,300 residents2,350 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,308 residents 2,241 residents ▼ -2.9%
Shinnston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 4
2021 5
2022 5
2023 4
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.8%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.8%
Work from Home
4.8%
Other
3.0%

Based on 1,058 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 Shinnston sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,007/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
71.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

St. Marys
2,178 people
Hooverson Heights
2,156 people
Spencer
2,137 people
Mullens
2,267 people
Stonewood
2,273 people
Bluewell
2,281 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Shinnston's 2,198 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

East Quincy, CA
2,198 people
Burns Harbor, IN
2,198 people
Perry, MI
2,198 people
Beaver Lake, NE
2,198 people
Fort Montgomery, NY
2,198 people
Madison, NC
2,198 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Shinnston's $63,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kellyton, AL
$63,750 median income
Golovin, AK
$63,750 median income
Peeples Valley, AZ
$63,750 median income
Banks, AR
$63,750 median income
Lakeview, CA
$63,750 median income
Malaga, CA
$63,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Shinnston, 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 Shinnston, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.0% 9.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.9% White 88.0% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.3% Two or more races 9.0% 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 Shinnston 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
Shinnston (this city) 2,198 $63,750
St. Marys 2,178 $59,315
Hooverson Heights 2,156 $58,681
Spencer 2,137 $25,897
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Shinnston, WV?

What is the population of Shinnston, WV? +

Shinnston, WV counts 2,198 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Shinnston households earn a median of $63,750 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Shinnston? +

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

A typical home in Shinnston is worth $135,500, 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 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.