County · West Virginia

Preston County, West Virginia

Preston County, West Virginia. Preston County had 34,004 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020, a smaller fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). It holds 12 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 11 census tracts. GEOID 54077.

Preston County is one of the 2 counties of the Morgantown, WV metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

34,004

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 34,216 · ACS 2020-2024: 34,160

Median household income

$61,880

±$4,690 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608

Median home value

$162,800

±$6,962 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600

Median gross rent

$750

±$77 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872

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

The 2020 Census counted 34,216 residents in Preston County. The Census Bureau estimates 34,004 for July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, a smaller fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 34,160 over 649 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +127 (34,328)
2021→2022 −101 (34,227)
2022→2023 −168 (34,059)
2023→2024 −72 (33,987)
2024→2025 +17 (34,004)

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

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Preston County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	34,160	1,778,373	+477
Households	12,809±379	728,655	no clear change
Average household size	2.37±0.07	2.37	−0.11
Housing units	15,183±77	861,325	no clear change

Preston County's population since 2000

From 29,334 in 2000 to 34,004 in 2025: up 15.9%. 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 29,334
2005 (estimate) 31,513
2010 Census 33,520
2015 (estimate) 33,855
2020 Census 34,216
2025 (estimate) 34,004

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 Preston County?

Preston County holds 12 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Kingwood with 2,937 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 Preston County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Kingwood	city	2,980	2,973±21	$71,154	$162,000	16.2%	100%
Terra Alta	town	1,415	1,841±405	$50,536	$95,200	29.1%	100%
ArthurdaleGEOID 5402908	CDP	1,143	982±336	$81,285	$153,900	7.2%	100%
ReedsvilleGEOID 5467636	town	530	504±208	$66,125	$182,400	3.7%	100%
MasontownGEOID 5452228	town	510	518±229	$54,643	$120,500	9.3%	100%
RowlesburgGEOID 5470588	town	438	773±252	$61,964	$99,800	19.0%	100%
TunneltonGEOID 5481268	town	296	404±169	$65,565	not published	7.9%	100%
NewburgGEOID 5458300	town	259	226±106	$51,821	$46,100	11.1%	100%
AlbrightGEOID 5400748	town	249	254±156	$60,000	$39,000	22.4%	100%
AuroraGEOID 5403460	CDP	200	284±159	$55,444	not published	22.9%	100%
BrandonvilleGEOID 5409844	town	129	166±74	$76,250	$181,300	10.8%	100%
Bruceton MillsGEOID 5410852	town	63	71±48	$101,000	$129,200	4.2%	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 Preston County?

The median resident of Preston County is 43.3 years old; 17.9% are under 18 and 20.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.5%. 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	Preston County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.3±0.4	42.7	+0.6
Under 18 years	17.9%±0.1 pts	20.0%	–
65 years and over	20.5%±0.1 pts	21.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.9%	2.1%	no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic	87.3%±1.3 pts	89.7%	−3.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	6.5%±0.3 pts	3.1%	+1.5 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 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	3.5%±1.2 pts	3.9%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	1.6%±0.3 pts	1.8%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.0%±0.3 pts	2.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.8%±1.0 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	18.2%±1.4 pts	19.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	7.9%±1.3 pts	6.0%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	86.2%±1.4 pts	89.3%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	17.5%±1.4 pts	24.1%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.4%±1.0 pts	9.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.9%±0.2 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 Preston County earn?

Half of Preston County's 12,809 households earn less than $61,880 a year (±$4,690), against $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $63,858 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Preston County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$61,880±$4,690	$59,608	no clear change
Mean household income	$75,856±$3,778	$81,190	–
Per capita income	$29,033±$1,351	$34,203	no clear change
People below the poverty line	13.8%±2.1 pts	16.7%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	19.1%±5.6 pts	21.5%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	17.2%±2.3 pts	17.3%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	86.4%±1.7 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 Preston County?

Owners occupy 81.5% of Preston County's occupied homes and renters 18.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,800 by its owner (±$6,962). The median renter pays $750 a month including utilities, and 32.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Preston County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$162,800±$6,962	$162,600	+$20,901
Median gross rent	$750±$77	$872	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	32.5%±8.4 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,267±$55	$1,255	–
Owner-occupied homes	81.5%±2.0 pts	74.9%	no clear change
Housing units	15,183±77	861,325	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.7%±0.9 pts	1.2%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.5%±2.9 pts	6.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	75.8%±2.0 pts	70.9%	–
Mobile homes	16.5%±1.9 pts	13.6%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.3%±0.5 pts	1.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	15.1%±2.0 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 Preston County building?

Builders took permits for 8 new housing units across Preston County in 2025 (8 single-family), 0.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 8 units
2020 2 units
2021 7 units
2022 3 units
2023 3 units
2024 1 units
2025 8 units

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

How do people in Preston County get to work?

76.1% of Preston County's workers drive alone and 8.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Preston County	West Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	49.8%±1.7 pts	53.8%	–
Unemployment rate	5.3%±1.3 pts	5.4%	−2.9 pts
Drove alone to work	76.1%±2.8 pts	78.1%	–
Carpooled	12.8%±2.4 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	1.8%±0.7 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	8.6%±1.7 pts	9.1%	+3.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	31.1 min±1.6	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 are Preston County's census tracts?

Preston County is divided into 11 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $44,549 (Tract 9645) to $82,287 (Tract 9641.01).

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

Tract 9638.0154077963801	–	4,751	5,161±192	$66,599	$228,400	$880	10.7%
Tract 9638.0254077963802	Bruceton Mills (6%)	3,263	3,467±477	$78,250	$200,400	$689	11.7%
Tract 963954077963900	Masontown (17%)	4,063	3,902±407	$59,464	$166,300	$836	13.2%
Tract 964054077964000	Kingwood (48%)	4,045	3,731±392	$67,292	$168,500	$699	10.3%
Tract 9641.0154077964101	–	2,055	1,830±294	$82,287	$170,400	not published	7.4%
Tract 9641.0254077964102	Terra Alta (52%)	1,063	1,286±358	$46,667	$114,800	$683	28.6%
Tract 9641.0354077964103	Albright (8%)	1,513	1,749±252	$73,125	$184,700	$975	16.7%
Tract 964254077964200	Terra Alta (11%)	3,716	3,520±455	$54,647	$120,000	$932	15.2%
Tract 964354077964300	Arthurdale (20%)	4,053	4,092±444	$68,641	$166,100	not published	13.6%
Tract 964454077964400	Newburg (9%)	3,151	3,100±456	$51,444	$104,100	$698	11.9%
Tract 964554077964500	Rowlesburg (13%)	2,543	2,322±319	$44,549	$97,400	$644	20.7%

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

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

Preston County's rank among West Virginia's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	15th of 55
Growth 2020-2025	12th of 55
Residents per square mile	27th of 55
Median household income	12th of 55
Median home value	16th of 55
Median gross rent	30th of 55
Poverty rate	46th of 55
Bachelor's degree or higher	32nd of 55
Median age	42nd 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 Preston 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.