City profile · West Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Terra Alta, WV

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

1,992
Residents
$50,035
Median income
$95,900
Median home
$1,099
Median rent (state)

Terra Alta - the verdict

Nationally, Terra Alta sits in the 20th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

20th
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
28th
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: Terra Alta, WV

1,992 people live in Terra Alta, West Virginia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Terra Alta households earn a median of $50,035 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 25.2%. Typical homes in Terra Alta are valued around $95,900, and the median resident age is 29.8 years. About 6.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 53.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in West Virginia run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, West Virginia scores 89.5 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,099 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts West Virginia's average monthly utility costs around $220 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 33.8 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,992 residents

Census ACS 2023 - West Virginia

Median Household Income

$50,035 /yr

Poverty 25.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

89.5 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, West Virginia average

How does Terra Alta compare to other US cities?

Terra Alta measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 28% 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

Each percentile compares Terra Alta against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to West Virginia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

West Virginia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Terra Alta's strongest outlier among West Virginia cities

Among the 390 West Virginia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Terra Alta ranks #18 - the 91st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Terra Alta only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#174 of 330
47th percentile in West Virginia
Median Gross Rent
#18 of 390
91st percentile in West Virginia
Median Home Value
#203 of 337
40th percentile in West Virginia
Poverty Rate
#72 of 389
81st percentile in West Virginia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#291 of 390
25th percentile in West Virginia

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within West Virginia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

20thIncome percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Terra Alta's home value compares nationally

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

$95,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Terra Alta $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 - Terra Alta, WV Terra Alta, WV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Terra Alta, 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 Terra Alta, WV median $50,035/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%
Terra Alta, 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 Terra Alta, WV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 25.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.3%

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

Population
1,992
Median Income
$50,035
Median Home Value
$95,900
Median Age
29.8
Poverty Rate
25.2%
Labor force participation
53.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.9%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,405 residents1,410 residents1,415 residents1,420 residents1,425 residents1,430 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,421 residents 1,413 residents ▼ -0.6%
Terra Alta's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.7%
Carpool
16.4%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
3.7%

Based on 812 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 Terra Alta sits in

Cost of Living Index
89.5
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,099/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
33.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in West Virginia

Star City
1,894 people
Nutter Fort
1,890 people
Crab Orchard
1,877 people
Spencer
2,137 people
Belington
1,843 people
Hooverson Heights
2,156 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Terra Alta's 1,992 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Prairie Grove, IL
1,992 people
Stacy, MN
1,992 people
Seaside Heights, NJ
1,992 people
Hamilton College, NY
1,992 people
Wilberforce, OH
1,992 people
Wadley, GA
1,991 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Terra Alta's $50,035 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Challis, ID
$50,034 median income
Yelvington, KY
$50,038 median income
Garden, SC
$50,027 median income
Norway, MI
$50,025 median income
Edwardsville, PA
$50,046 median income
Robbins, NC
$50,023 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Terra Alta, 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 Terra Alta, WV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.3% 12.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.4% White 86.3% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 12.8% 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 Terra Alta 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
Terra Alta (this city) 1,992 $50,035
Star City 1,894 $62,031
Nutter Fort 1,890 $62,917
Crab Orchard 1,877 $59,122
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WV NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Terra Alta, WV?

What is the population of Terra Alta, WV? +

Terra Alta, WV has a population of 1,992 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Terra Alta, WV? +

Terra Alta households earn a median of $50,035 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Terra Alta? +

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

The median home value in Terra Alta is $95,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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

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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.