City · West Virginia

Shinnston, West Virginia

Shinnston, city, in Harrison County, West Virginia. Shinnston had 2,241 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,328 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,352 (±358). GEOID 5473636.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,241

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,328 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,352 ±358

Median household income

$69,844

±$12,837 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608

Median home value

$153,200

±$15,652 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600

Median gross rent

$972

±$262 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872

Where is Shinnston and what county is it in?

Shinnston is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia. It covers 1.7 square miles of land, 1,392 residents per square mile in 2020.

Shinnston is in the Clarksburg, WV micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Shinnston (marked with a dot) in Harrison County, West Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Shinnston, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,241 people lived in Shinnston on July 1, 2025, down 3.0% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 2,328 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,352 (±358).

  • July 2020→2021 −11 (2,297)
  • 2021→2022 −29 (2,268)
  • 2022→2023 −7 (2,261)
  • 2023→2024 −8 (2,253)
  • 2024→2025 −12 (2,241)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure ShinnstonHarrison CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Total population 2,352 ±358 64,984 1,778,373 no clear change
Households 900 ±130 26,353 728,655 no clear change
Average household size 2.61 ±0.36 2.43 2.37 no clear change
Housing units 1,050 ±148 30,537 861,325 no clear change

Shinnston's population since 2000

From 2,295 in 2000 to 2,241 in 2025: down 2.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Shinnston 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.

  • 2000 Census 2,295
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,235
  • 2010 Census 2,201
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,165
  • 2020 Census 2,328
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,241

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 Shinnston?

The median resident of Shinnston is 42.6 years old; 19.7% are under 18 and 19.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 6.7%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure ShinnstonHarrison CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median age 42.6 ±4.3 42.6 42.7 no clear change
Under 18 years 19.7% ±4.9 pts 21.2% 20.0% –
65 years and over 19.1% ±4.2 pts 20.3% 21.0% –
Male 46.5% ±5.0 pts 49.1% 49.9% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.7% ±3.0 pts 2.3% 2.1% –
White alone, not Hispanic 88.5% ±6.1 pts 91.8% 89.7% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.5% ±0.7 pts 1.5% 3.1% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.6% ±1.0 pts 0.8% 0.8% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.6 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.6 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 6.7% ±5.4 pts 3.5% 3.9% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.6 pts 0.1% 0.3% –
Born outside the United States 1.1% ±1.3 pts 1.2% 1.8% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 2.5% ±2.4 pts 2.1% 2.5% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 7.4% ±3.0 pts 7.5% 7.4% –
With a disability 13.6% ±4.5 pts 17.1% 19.1% –
No health insurance coverage 4.3% ±2.5 pts 7.5% 6.0% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 97.5% ±1.8 pts 89.8% 89.3% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 26.1% ±7.1 pts 27.2% 24.1% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 4.2% ±1.9 pts 10.4% 9.7% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 90.1% ±5.7 pts 92.0% 89.7% –
Moved from another state in the past year 0.0% ±1.6 pts 1.0% 2.4% –

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 Shinnston earn?

Half of Shinnston's 900 households earn less than $69,844 a year (±$12,837), against $60,377 in Harrison County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $69,970 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure ShinnstonHarrison CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $69,844 ±$12,837 $60,377 $59,608 no clear change
Mean household income $87,397 ±$13,213 $84,166 $81,190 –
Per capita income $35,252 ±$5,132 $35,791 $34,203 no clear change
People below the poverty line 11.8% ±6.8 pts 14.4% 16.7% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 22.5% ±21.2 pts 18.8% 21.5% –
Households receiving SNAP 14.4% ±6.0 pts 16.0% 17.3% –
Households with a computer 96.2% ±2.0 pts 91.3% 91.2% –
Households with a broadband subscription 90.3% ±5.0 pts 86.4% 86.1% –

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 Shinnston?

Owners occupy 78.3% of Shinnston's occupied homes and renters 21.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $153,200 by its owner (±$15,652). The median renter pays $972 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure ShinnstonHarrison CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $153,200 ±$15,652 $166,200 $162,600 no clear change
Median gross rent $972 ±$262 $879 $872 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 39.7% ±27.9 pts 37.9% 39.0% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,272 ±$132 $1,244 $1,255 –
Owner-occupied homes 78.3% ±8.6 pts 73.6% 74.9% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 21.7% ±8.6 pts 26.4% 25.1% –
Housing units 1,050 ±148 30,537 861,325 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 2.0% ±3.5 pts 1.8% 1.2% –
Rental vacancy rate 16.3% ±16.7 pts 14.9% 6.7% –
Single-family detached homes 79.4% ±6.4 pts 74.5% 70.9% –
Mobile homes 3.4% ±3.2 pts 7.6% 13.6% –
Built 2020 or later 0.5% ±0.9 pts 1.0% 1.0% –
Built 2010 to 2019 4.0% ±2.8 pts 7.1% 7.0% –
Built 1939 or earlier 27.7% ±7.6 pts 24.5% 14.9% –
Households with no vehicle 5.2% ±2.9 pts 9.5% 8.0% –

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 Shinnston building?

Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Shinnston in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.9 per 1,000 residents against 2.2 across West Virginia.

  • 2019 4 units
  • 2020 4 units
  • 2021 5 units
  • 2022 5 units
  • 2023 4 units
  • 2024 2 units
  • 2025 2 units

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 Shinnston work and get to work?

71.2% of Shinnston's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.7 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure ShinnstonHarrison CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 61.9% ±5.8 pts 56.2% 53.8% –
Unemployment rate 2.1% ±2.4 pts 4.0% 5.4% –
Drove alone to work 71.2% ±10.4 pts 79.2% 78.1% –
Carpooled 11.8% ±8.5 pts 6.7% 8.5% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±3.1 pts 0.1% 0.5% –
Walked 5.1% ±4.4 pts 4.4% 2.5% –
Worked from home 7.8% ±5.2 pts 8.3% 9.1% –
Mean travel time to work 22.7 min ±2.9 22.4 min 26.6 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 Shinnston?

1 census tract lies mostly in Shinnston, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Shinnston, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Shinnston
Tract 319Harrison County2,352 $69,844 $153,20098%
Tract 320Harrison County2,719 $59,000 $160,3002%

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 Shinnston) · Census block assignment files

How does Shinnston compare with other places in West Virginia?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Shinnston is the 7,288th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 54th-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.

Shinnston ranks 32nd of 138 places in West Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Shinnston's rank in West Virginia (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate54th230
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)32nd102
Residents per square mile56th146
Median household income32nd138
Per capita income46th144
Median home value59th142
Median gross rent28th123
Poverty rate92nd111
Bachelor's degree or higher53rd135
Median age72nd146
Owner-occupied share38th146
Travel time to work65th145

Shinnston's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)

Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Shinnston 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 Shinnston?

22 of the 57 figures for Shinnston 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 Shinnston 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 Shinnston.