City · West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, city, mostly in Ohio County (98.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Marshall County, West Virginia. Wheeling had 25,680 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 27,052 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 26,350 (±207). GEOID 5486452.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
25,680
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 27,052 · ACS 2020-2024: 26,350 ±207
Median household income
$48,590
±$2,959 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$146,500
±$8,330 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$794
±$32 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
Where is Wheeling and what county is it in?
Wheeling is a city mostly in Ohio County (98.7% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Marshall County, West Virginia. It covers 13.6 square miles of land, 1,990 residents per square mile in 2020.
Wheeling is in the Wheeling, WV-OH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio County | 26,709 | 98.7% |
| Marshall County | 343 | 1.3% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wheeling, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 25,680 people lived in Wheeling on July 1, 2025, down 4.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 27,052 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 26,350 (±207).
| Measure | Wheeling | Ohio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 26,350 ±207 | 41,582 | −712 |
| Households | 12,614 ±349 | 18,342 | +1,026 |
| Average household size | 2.00 ±0.05 | 2.15 | −0.23 |
| Housing units | 14,569 ±290 | 21,120 | no clear change |
Wheeling's population since 2000
From 31,419 in 2000 to 25,680 in 2025: down 18.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wheeling 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 Wheeling?
The median resident of Wheeling is 45.4 years old; 18.1% are under 18 and 25.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.7%. 2.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wheeling | Ohio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 ±1.5 | 42.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.1% ±1.2 pts | 19.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.9% ±0.9 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Male | 47.2% ±1.1 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% ±0.4 pts | 1.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.8% ±0.9 pts | 89.8% | −1.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.5% ±0.6 pts | 3.3% | −1.2 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±0.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.1% ±0.6 pts | 2.5% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.3% ±0.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4% ±1.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 18.8% ±1.5 pts | 16.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7% ±1.0 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.4% ±1.5 pts | 92.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.1% ±2.3 pts | 33.9% | +3.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.1% ±1.5 pts | 14.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.3% ±2.1 pts | 87.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8% ±1.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
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 Wheeling earn?
Half of Wheeling's 12,614 households earn less than $48,590 a year (±$2,959), against $57,094 in Ohio County and $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $54,297 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $5,707 after inflation. 20.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wheeling | Ohio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,590 ±$2,959 | $57,094 | −$5,707 |
| Mean household income | $75,742 ±$5,113 | $85,503 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,509 ±$2,469 | $38,134 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.5% ±2.5 pts | 17.7% | +6.7 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 27.4% ±6.1 pts | 21.8% | +15.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.9% ±2.9 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.6% ±2.0 pts | 89.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.7% ±2.3 pts | 86.6% | – |
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 Wheeling?
Owners occupy 59.8% of Wheeling's occupied homes and renters 40.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $146,500 by its owner (±$8,330). The median renter pays $794 a month including utilities, and 45.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wheeling | Ohio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $146,500 ±$8,330 | $166,000 | +$11,001 |
| Median gross rent | $794 ±$32 | $821 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.9% ±5.6 pts | 45.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,146 ±$54 | $1,209 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.8% ±2.6 pts | 66.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.2% ±2.6 pts | 33.6% | – |
| Housing units | 14,569 ±290 | 21,120 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±0.8 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3% ±2.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 62.0% ±2.6 pts | 66.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.6% ±1.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 41.2% ±2.8 pts | 32.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 15.7% ±2.0 pts | 12.0% | – |
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 Wheeling building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Wheeling in 2025 (3 in single-family houses), 0.1 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 Wheeling work and get to work?
78.3% of Wheeling's workers drive alone and 6.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | Wheeling | Ohio County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.6% ±2.2 pts | 58.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% ±1.6 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.3% ±2.9 pts | 79.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.2% ±2.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.2% ±0.9 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 4.0% ±1.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.9% ±1.4 pts | 6.4% | +3.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.8 min ±1.5 | 21.1 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 Wheeling?
14 census tracts lie mostly in Wheeling, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $23,125 (Tract 7) to $77,167 (Tract 17).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 18Ohio County | 4,912 | $44,631 |
| Tract 2Ohio County | 3,079 | $57,500 |
| Tract 14Ohio County | 2,872 | $43,781 |
| Tract 16Ohio County | 2,517 | $61,789 |
| Tract 15Ohio County | 2,580 | $57,500 |
| Tract 26Ohio County | 1,831 | $31,033 |
| Tract 3Ohio County | 1,709 | $56,161 |
| Tract 17Ohio County | 1,780 | $77,167 |
| Tract 5Ohio County | 1,626 | $76,500 |
| Tract 6Ohio County | 1,120 | $19,630 |
| Tract 13Ohio County | 1,609 | $74,226 |
| Tract 4Ohio County | 831 | $23,750 |
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 Wheeling) · Census block assignment files
How does Wheeling compare with other places in West Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wheeling is the 1,568th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 5th-most populous of 230 in West Virginia.
Wheeling ranks 90th 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 | 5th | 230 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 53rd | 102 |
| Residents per square mile | 28th | 146 |
| Median household income | 90th | 138 |
| Per capita income | 40th | 144 |
| Median home value | 64th | 142 |
| Median gross rent | 76th | 123 |
| Poverty rate | 57th | 111 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26th | 135 |
| Median age | 44th | 146 |
| Owner-occupied share | 114th | 146 |
| Work from home | 49th | 53 |
| Travel time to work | 102nd | 145 |
Wheeling's figures with every place in West Virginia (CSV)
Every place in West Virginia, sortable · Compare Wheeling 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 Wheeling?
5 of the 57 figures for Wheeling 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 Wheeling 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 Wheeling.