Town · West Virginia

West Liberty, West Virginia

West Liberty, town, in Ohio County, West Virginia. West Liberty had 1,429 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,454 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,481 (±154). GEOID 5485876.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

1,429

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,454 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,481 ±154

Median household income

$43,750

±$27,574 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608

Median home value

$151,900

±$53,720 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600

Median gross rent

$1,269

±$852 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872

Where is West Liberty and what county is it in?

West Liberty is a town in Ohio County, West Virginia. It covers 1.1 square miles of land, 1,332 residents per square mile in 2020.

West Liberty is in the Wheeling, WV-OH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

West Liberty (marked with a dot) in Ohio 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 West Liberty, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 1,429 people lived in West Liberty on July 1, 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, in line with West Virginia (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 1,454 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,481 (±154).

  • July 2020→2021 −16 (1,433)
  • 2021→2022 +5 (1,438)
  • 2022→2023 +0 (1,438)
  • 2023→2024 −4 (1,434)
  • 2024→2025 −5 (1,429)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure West LibertyOhio CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Total population 1,481 ±154 41,582 1,778,373 no clear change
Households 220 ±72 18,342 728,655 no clear change
Average household size 2.14 ±0.31 2.15 2.37 no clear change
Housing units 294 ±83 21,120 861,325 no clear change

West Liberty's population since 2000

From 1,220 in 2000 to 1,429 in 2025: up 17.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for West Liberty 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 1,220
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,431
  • 2010 Census 1,542
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,471
  • 2020 Census 1,454
  • 2025 (estimate) 1,429

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 West Liberty?

The median resident of West Liberty is 20.7 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 5.1%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure West LibertyOhio CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median age 20.7 ±0.5 42.7 42.7 no clear change
Under 18 years 1.9% ±1.5 pts 19.4% 20.0% –
65 years and over 5.1% ±2.4 pts 22.8% 21.0% –
Male 40.3% ±6.7 pts 48.8% 49.9% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.9% ±3.6 pts 1.7% 2.1% –
White alone, not Hispanic 87.0% ±8.3 pts 89.8% 89.7% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 5.1% ±6.5 pts 3.3% 3.1% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.3% ±0.7 pts 0.5% 0.8% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.5 pts 0.1% 0.1% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.5 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 4.7% ±3.8 pts 4.5% 3.9% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.5 pts 0.1% 0.3% –
Born outside the United States 4.3% ±3.7 pts 2.5% 1.8% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 5.0% ±3.4 pts 3.7% 2.5% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 1.0% ±0.6 pts 6.9% 7.4% –
With a disability 7.2% ±4.0 pts 16.4% 19.1% –
No health insurance coverage 9.8% ±6.0 pts 5.1% 6.0% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 91.9% ±4.4 pts 92.7% 89.3% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 39.9% ±15.5 pts 33.9% 24.1% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 15.7% ±10.2 pts 14.3% 9.7% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 78.6% ±6.8 pts 87.7% 89.7% –
Moved from another state in the past year 5.6% ±3.5 pts 3.7% 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 West Liberty earn?

Half of West Liberty's 220 households earn less than $43,750 a year (±$27,574), against $57,094 in Ohio County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $44,613 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 33.6% 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 West LibertyOhio CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $43,750 ±$27,574 $57,094 $59,608 no clear change
Mean household income $59,779 ±$15,544 $85,503 $81,190 –
Per capita income $12,359 ±$2,560 $38,134 $34,203 no clear change
People below the poverty line 33.6% ±17.2 pts 17.7% 16.7% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 0.0% ±60.2 pts 21.8% 21.5% –
Households receiving SNAP 7.7% ±8.5 pts 18.5% 17.3% –
Households with a computer 95.9% ±4.7 pts 89.5% 91.2% –
Households with a broadband subscription 91.8% ±8.1 pts 86.6% 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 West Liberty?

Owners occupy 45.5% of West Liberty's occupied homes and renters 54.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $151,900 by its owner (±$53,720).

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure West LibertyOhio CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $151,900 ±$53,720 $166,000 $162,600 no clear change
Median gross rent $1,269 ±$852 $821 $872 –
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 53.5% ±32.4 pts 45.6% 39.0% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,324 ±$250 $1,209 $1,255 –
Owner-occupied homes 45.5% ±17.6 pts 66.4% 74.9% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 54.5% ±17.6 pts 33.6% 25.1% –
Housing units 294 ±83 21,120 861,325 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±30.3 pts 0.7% 1.2% –
Rental vacancy rate 14.0% ±12.2 pts 5.8% 6.7% –
Single-family detached homes 50.0% ±15.4 pts 66.7% 70.9% –
Mobile homes 1.0% ±1.9 pts 2.7% 13.6% –
Built 2020 or later 0.0% ±12.0 pts 0.3% 1.0% –
Built 2010 to 2019 28.2% ±14.9 pts 5.3% 7.0% –
Built 1939 or earlier 22.8% ±11.4 pts 32.9% 14.9% –
Households with no vehicle 0.9% ±1.8 pts 12.0% 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 West Liberty building?

West Liberty last reported building permits to the Census Bureau for 2022.

  • 2019 0 units
  • 2020 0 units
  • 2021 0 units
  • 2022 0 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 West Liberty work and get to work?

56.7% of West Liberty's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.6 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure West LibertyOhio CountyWest Virginia Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 56.6% ±9.2 pts 58.0% 53.8% –
Unemployment rate 7.1% ±6.6 pts 6.0% 5.4% –
Drove alone to work 56.7% ±12.3 pts 79.2% 78.1% –
Carpooled 14.5% ±19.1 pts 6.5% 8.5% –
Public transportation 0.3% ±1.1 pts 1.4% 0.5% –
Walked 27.4% ±17.4 pts 4.7% 2.5% –
Worked from home 1.1% ±1.2 pts 6.4% 9.1% –
Mean travel time to work 22.6 min ±7.0 21.1 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 West Liberty?

No census tract lies mostly in West Liberty; 2 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in West Liberty, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in West Liberty
Tract 21Ohio County3,828 $66,308 $166,20017%
Tract 20Ohio County4,726 $91,382 $254,3002%

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 West Liberty) · Census block assignment files

How does West Liberty compare with other places in West Virginia?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, West Liberty is the 8,904th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 73rd-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.

West Liberty ranks 106th of 138 places in West Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

West Liberty'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 estimate73rd230
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)21st102
Residents per square mile58th146
Median household income106th138
Per capita income143rd144
Median home value61st142
Poverty rate11th111
Bachelor's degree or higher14th135
Median age146th146
Owner-occupied share139th146
Travel time to work68th145

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

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

22 of the 57 figures for West Liberty 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 West Liberty 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 West Liberty.