County · West Virginia

McDowell County, West Virginia

McDowell County, West Virginia. McDowell County had 16,878 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 11.7% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). It holds 20 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs and 10 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 54047.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

16,878

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 19,111 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,943

Median household income

$31,559

±$2,515 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608

Median home value

$50,000

±$4,822 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600

Median gross rent

$643

±$47 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872

How many people live in McDowell County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 19,111 residents in McDowell County. The Census Bureau estimates 16,878 for July 1, 2025, down 11.7% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 17,943 over 533 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −521 (18,421)
2021→2022 −626 (17,795)
2022→2023 −349 (17,446)
2023→2024 −260 (17,186)
2024→2025 −308 (16,878)

McDowell County in West Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	McDowell County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	17,943	1,778,373	−718
Households	6,467±288	728,655	−1,140
Average household size	2.44±0.11	2.37	+0.18
Housing units	9,336±21	861,325	−1,884

McDowell County's population since 2000

From 27,329 in 2000 to 16,878 in 2025: down 38.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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 27,329
2005 (estimate) 23,711
2010 Census 22,113
2015 (estimate) 19,768
2020 Census 19,111
2025 (estimate) 16,878

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in McDowell County?

McDowell County holds 20 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 10 census-designated places. The largest is Welch with 3,389 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in McDowell County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Welch	city	3,590	3,507±23	$32,969	$57,300	28.2%	100%
GaryGEOID 5430196	city	773	861±270	$41,603	$50,900	12.8%	100%
War	city	623	628±278	$29,500	$32,600	35.2%	100%
RaysalGEOID 5467228	CDP	364	162±126	not published	$94,400	35.2%	100%
IaegerGEOID 5439652	town	257	253±151	$36,591	$57,500	17.8%	100%
NorthforkGEOID 5459428	town	231	169±77	$50,208	$33,700	20.2%	100%
DavyGEOID 5420500	town	209	186±140	$32,500	$30,800	0.0%	100%
BradshawGEOID 5409700	town	207	327±151	$22,116	$54,600	14.7%	100%
Big SandyGEOID 5407516	CDP	198	113±137	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
BerwindGEOID 5406748	CDP	188	127±107	not published	$21,900	56.7%	100%
KeystoneGEOID 5443516	city	176	39±32	$21,618	$31,100	56.4%	100%
PagetonGEOID 5461684	CDP	174	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%
AnawaltGEOID 5401780	town	165	109±85	$38,000	not published	56.9%	100%
CrumplerGEOID 5419324	CDP	151	351±144	not published	$94,100	57.3%	100%
BartleyGEOID 5404732	CDP	146	327±434	not published	not published	94.2%	100%
KimballGEOID 5443780	town	145	231±104	not published	$30,200	60.2%	100%
MaybeuryGEOID 5452588	CDP	109	88±96	not published	not published	17.0%	100%
VivianGEOID 5483764	CDP	85	79±114	not published	not published	100.0%	100%
CucumberGEOID 5419492	CDP	74	87±100	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
RoderfieldGEOID 5469844	CDP	62	0±13	not published	not published	–	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in McDowell County?

The median resident of McDowell County is 43.7 years old; 18.2% are under 18 and 21.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.8%. 1.6% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	McDowell County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.7±0.6	42.7	−1.3
Under 18 years	18.2%±0.8 pts	20.0%	–
65 years and over	21.9%±0.1 pts	21.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.1%±0.5 pts	2.1%	no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic	86.5%±0.1 pts	89.7%	−2.2 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	8.8%±0.9 pts	3.1%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
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%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.5%±0.9 pts	3.9%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	1.6%±0.4 pts	1.8%	+0.6 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.4%±0.6 pts	2.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	4.7%±1.3 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	29.8%±3.0 pts	19.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	8.8%±2.0 pts	6.0%	+2.8 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	75.5%±3.0 pts	89.3%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	6.8%±2.1 pts	24.1%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	2.3%±0.9 pts	9.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.3%±0.3 pts	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 McDowell County earn?

Half of McDowell County's 6,467 households earn less than $31,559 a year (±$2,515), against $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $34,068 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 34.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McDowell County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$31,559±$2,515	$59,608	no clear change
Mean household income	$43,863±$4,024	$81,190	–
Per capita income	$17,253±$1,792	$34,203	no clear change
People below the poverty line	34.2%±6.2 pts	16.7%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	35.3%±11.4 pts	21.5%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	36.5%±5.4 pts	17.3%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	85.5%±3.1 pts	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 McDowell County?

Owners occupy 77.3% of McDowell County's occupied homes and renters 22.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $50,000 by its owner (±$4,822). The median renter pays $643 a month including utilities, and 48.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McDowell County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$50,000±$4,822	$162,600	no clear change
Median gross rent	$643±$47	$872	−$65
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	48.3%±12.7 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$906±$256	$1,255	–
Owner-occupied homes	77.3%±4.3 pts	74.9%	no clear change
Housing units	9,336±21	861,325	−1,884
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.7%±1.3 pts	1.2%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.6%±4.0 pts	6.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	71.3%±3.1 pts	70.9%	–
Mobile homes	22.7%±2.9 pts	13.6%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.1%±0.2 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	29.5%±3.8 pts	14.9%	–

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 McDowell County building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across McDowell County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 22 units
2020 18 units
2021 9 units
2022 4 units
2023 5 units
2024 7 units
2025 0 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in McDowell County get to work?

83.2% of McDowell County's workers drive alone and 4.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 36.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	McDowell County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	27.1%±3.0 pts	53.8%	–
Unemployment rate	8.2%±4.5 pts	5.4%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	83.2%±4.3 pts	78.1%	–
Carpooled	9.4%±3.5 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.5%±0.8 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	0.9%±1.0 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	4.5%±2.2 pts	9.1%	–
Mean travel time to work	36.0 min±4.3	26.6 min	+8.8 min

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 are McDowell County's census tracts?

McDowell County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $27,450 (Tract 9538) to $41,589 (Tract 9545.01).

Census tracts of McDowell County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 953654047953600	Northfork (21%)	879	964±283	$39,598	$70,900	not published	34.2%
Tract 953854047953800	Welch (15%)	2,495	1,871±518	$27,450	$59,300	$827	28.2%
Tract 953954047953900	Iaeger (5%)	1,957	1,471±358	$30,190	$49,500	$671	41.9%
Tract 954054047954000	Bradshaw (9%)	1,930	1,805±497	not published	$56,100	$594	23.2%
Tract 954254047954200	War (13%)	1,527	1,673±483	$29,659	$24,900	not published	35.9%
Tract 9545.0154047954501	Gary (18%)	1,721	1,814±457	$41,589	$41,400	$335	27.6%
Tract 9545.0354047954503	Welch (26%)	4,755	4,992±570	$31,948	$54,700	$609	41.1%
Tract 9545.0454047954504	War (8%)	3,847	3,353±678	$31,938	$52,000	$714	36.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does McDowell County compare with West Virginia's other counties?

McDowell County's rank among West Virginia's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	32nd of 55
Growth 2020-2025	55th of 55
Residents per square mile	36th of 55
Median household income	55th of 55
Median home value	55th of 55
Median gross rent	50th of 55
Poverty rate	1st of 55
Bachelor's degree or higher	55th of 55
Median age	38th of 55

Every county in West Virginia

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 McDowell County 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' school search.