County · West Virginia

Wirt County, West Virginia

Wirt County, West Virginia. Wirt County had 4,879 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 6.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 54105.

Wirt County is one of the 2 counties of the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

4,879

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,194 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,053

Median household income

$49,867

±$5,186 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608

Median home value

$115,800

±$15,119 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600

Median gross rent

$558

±$120 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872

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

The 2020 Census counted 5,194 residents in Wirt County. The Census Bureau estimates 4,879 for July 1, 2025, down 6.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 5,053 over 233 square miles of land.

  • July 2020→2021 −120 (5,067)
  • 2021→2022 +30 (5,097)
  • 2022→2023 −131 (4,966)
  • 2023→2024 −58 (4,908)
  • 2024→2025 −29 (4,879)
Wirt County in West Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.
Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureWirt CountyWest VirginiaChange since 2015-2019
Total population5,0531,778,373−745
Households2,041±126728,655−464
Average household size2.48±0.152.37no clear change
Housing units2,725±15861,325−592

Wirt County's population since 2000

From 5,873 in 2000 to 4,879 in 2025: down 16.9%. 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 5,873
  • 2005 (estimate) 5,836
  • 2010 Census 5,717
  • 2015 (estimate) 5,798
  • 2020 Census 5,194
  • 2025 (estimate) 4,879

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 Wirt County?

Wirt County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Elizabeth with 676 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 Wirt County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.
Elizabethtown724564±209$22,353$87,40036.5%100%
NewarkGEOID 5458252CDP496495±184$47,941$89,10024.3%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 Wirt County?

The median resident of Wirt County is 46.3 years old; 21.2% are under 18 and 23.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.2%.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureWirt CountyWest VirginiaChange since 2015-2019
Median age46.3±0.342.7+0.9
Under 18 years21.2%±0.5 pts20.0%–
65 years and over23.1%±0.7 pts21.0%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.0%±0.7 pts2.1%–
White alone, not Hispanic96.4%±0.5 pts89.7%−2.5 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.7 pts3.1%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.2%±0.4 pts0.8%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.7 pts0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.7 pts0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic3.2%±0.5 pts3.9%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.2%±0.3 pts0.3%–
Born outside the United States0.2%±0.4 pts1.8%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)1.4%±1.0 pts2.5%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)9.5%±3.1 pts7.4%–
With a disability18.8%±3.7 pts19.1%–
No health insurance coverage6.9%±3.9 pts6.0%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)89.9%±2.9 pts89.3%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)15.5%±4.1 pts24.1%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)4.2%±2.4 pts9.7%–
Moved from another state in the past year0.6%±0.6 pts2.4%–

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 Wirt County earn?

Half of Wirt County's 2,041 households earn less than $49,867 a year (±$5,186), against $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $56,671 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureWirt CountyWest VirginiaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$49,867±$5,186$59,608no clear change
Mean household income$64,298±$5,269$81,190–
Per capita income$26,269±$1,958$34,203no clear change
People below the poverty line16.8%±5.1 pts16.7%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line24.8%±12.8 pts21.5%no clear change
Households receiving SNAP18.3%±4.8 pts17.3%–
Households with a broadband subscription79.2%±5.6 pts86.1%–

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 Wirt County?

Owners occupy 87.8% of Wirt County's occupied homes and renters 12.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $115,800 by its owner (±$15,119). The median renter pays $558 a month including utilities, and 38.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureWirt CountyWest VirginiaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$115,800±$15,119$162,600no clear change
Median gross rent$558±$120$872no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent38.9%±19.4 pts39.0%no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$944±$110$1,255–
Owner-occupied homes87.8%±4.1 pts74.9%no clear change
Housing units2,725±15861,325−592
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±2.1 pts1.2%–
Rental vacancy rate16.0%±14.4 pts6.7%–
Single-family detached homes70.1%±5.6 pts70.9%–
Mobile homes25.9%±5.5 pts13.6%–
Built 2020 or later1.5%±1.7 pts1.0%–
Built 1939 or earlier8.3%±3.4 pts14.9%–

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 Wirt County building?

Builders took permits for 12 new housing units across Wirt County in 2025 (12 single-family), 2.5 per 1,000 residents.

  • 2019 9 units
  • 2020 11 units
  • 2021 13 units
  • 2022 11 units
  • 2023 12 units
  • 2024 14 units
  • 2025 12 units

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

How do people in Wirt County get to work?

74.6% of Wirt County's workers drive alone and 11.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureWirt CountyWest VirginiaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)47.5%±4.2 pts53.8%–
Unemployment rate4.9%±3.1 pts5.4%no clear change
Drove alone to work74.6%±7.8 pts78.1%–
Carpooled11.5%±6.4 pts8.5%–
Public transportation0.0%±2.0 pts0.5%–
Walked1.6%±2.0 pts2.5%–
Worked from home11.8%±4.7 pts9.1%+6.1 pts
Mean travel time to work32.3 min±2.726.6 min−6.9 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 Wirt County's census tracts?

Wirt County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $49,716 (Tract 301.01) to $50,294 (Tract 301.02).

Census tracts of Wirt County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column
Tract 301.0154105030101Elizabeth (11%)3,0723,351±292$49,716$125,000$58418.5%
Tract 301.0254105030102Newark (3%)2,1221,702±292$50,294$93,000$52513.4%

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

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

Wirt County's rank among West Virginia's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
MeasureRank
Population55th of 55
Growth 2020-202546th of 55
Residents per square mile48th of 55
Median household income40th of 55
Median home value43rd of 55
Median gross rent54th of 55
Poverty rate27th of 55
Bachelor's degree or higher38th of 55
Median age17th 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 Wirt 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.