State
West Virginia
West Virginia. West Virginia had 1,766,147 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.5% since 2020, while the United States grew 3.1%. 439 places (231 incorporated and 208 census-designated) in 55 counties; 24,041 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
1,766,147
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,793,716
Median household income
$59,608
±$691 (90% margin)
Median home value
$162,600
±$1,346 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$872
±$8 (90% margin)
How many people live in West Virginia?
The 2020 Census counted 1,793,716 residents in West Virginia. The Census Bureau estimates 1,766,147 for July 1, 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, while the United States grew 3.1%. 44.0% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.
West Virginia is the 39th-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,778,373 | −38,932 |
| Households | 728,655 ±3,249 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.37 ±0.01 | −0.05 |
| Housing units | 861,325 ±394 | −30,857 |
West Virginia's population since 2000
From 1,808,344 in 2000 to 1,766,147 in 2025: down 2.3%. 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.
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; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in West Virginia?
Charleston is West Virginia's largest place with 46,117 residents in 2025, followed by Huntington (44,815 residents in 2025) and Morgantown (30,293 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 46,117 | $65,812 |
| Huntington | 44,815 | $45,100 |
| Morgantown | 30,293 | $44,727 |
| Parkersburg | 28,593 | $49,025 |
| Wheeling | 25,680 | $48,590 |
| Martinsburg | 19,211 | $59,555 |
| Weirton | 18,133 | $59,575 |
| Fairmont | 18,035 | $63,032 |
| Beckley | 16,373 | $45,826 |
| Clarksburg | 15,562 | $47,386 |
| Teays Valley | 14,151 | $108,741 |
| South Charleston | 13,072 | $63,884 |
| Cheat Lake | 10,902 | $117,014 |
| Vienna | 10,321 | $60,388 |
| St. Albans | 10,210 | $53,972 |
| Cross Lanes | 9,671 | $63,537 |
| Bridgeport | 9,427 | $100,022 |
| Charles Town | 9,329 | $89,263 |
| Bluefield | 9,158 | $49,375 |
| Moundsville | 7,659 | $49,048 |
| Oak Hill | 7,629 | $52,466 |
| Hurricane | 7,367 | $71,167 |
| Dunbar | 7,050 | $58,379 |
| Pea Ridge | 6,988 | $65,811 |
| Ranson corporation | 6,853 | $89,523 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in West Virginia?
West Virginia has 55 counties. Kanawha County is the largest with 172,381 residents in 2025; Wirt County is the smallest with 4,879.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in West Virginia?
The median resident of West Virginia is 42.7 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 21.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.9%. 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 ±0.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% ±0.1 pts | +0.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.7% ±0.1 pts | −2.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±0.1 pts | −0.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.8% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.4% ±0.2 pts | – |
| With a disability | 19.1% ±0.3 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.0% ±0.2 pts | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.3% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.1% ±0.4 pts | +3.5 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.7% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4% ±0.1 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in West Virginia earn?
Half of West Virginia's 728,655 households earn less than $59,608 a year (±$691). In 2015-2019 the median was $57,487 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,121 after inflation. 16.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,608 ±$691 | +$2,121 |
| Mean household income | $81,190 ±$817 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,203 ±$337 | +$1,614 |
| People below the poverty line | 16.7% ±0.4 pts | −0.9 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.5% ±0.9 pts | −2.3 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.3% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.1% ±0.3 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in West Virginia?
Owners occupy 74.9% of West Virginia's occupied homes and renters 25.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,600 by its owner (±$1,346). The median renter pays $872 a month including utilities, and 39.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $162,600 ±$1,346 | +$15,409 |
| Median gross rent | $872 ±$8 | −$20 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.0% ±1.2 pts | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,255 ±$13 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.9% ±0.3 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Housing units | 861,325 ±394 | −30,857 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.2% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.7% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.9% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 13.6% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.9% ±0.3 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is West Virginia building?
Builders took permits for 3,962 new housing units in West Virginia in 2025 (3,618 single-family), 2.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in West Virginia get to work?
78.1% of West Virginia's workers drive alone and 9.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.
| Measure | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.8% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% ±0.2 pts | −1.1 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 78.1% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 8.5% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 2.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 9.1% ±0.3 pts | +5.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.6 min ±0.3 | +0.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections