West Virginia Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for West Virginia, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in West Virginia. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in West Virginia. The estimated population of West Virginia is 1,801,049 people, with a median age of 42.6.

We can look at the total population in West Virginia over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
1,801,049
 -0.35% -1.95%
2020
1,807,426
 -0.54% -
2019
1,817,305
 -0.64% -
2018
1,829,054
 -0.42% -
2017
1,836,843
 - -

Population of West Virginia by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
91.2%
92.3%
 -1.19%
Black/African American
3.4%
3.5%
 -2.86%
Native
0.1%
0.2%
 -50.00%
Hispanic
1.7%
1.5%
 +13.33%
Asian
0.8%
0.8%
 0.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.6%
1.6%
 +62.50%
Other
0.2%
0.2%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of West Virginia by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 42.6 -0.23% 41.4 +0.24% 44 -0.23%
2020 42.7 +0.47% 41.3 +0.24% 44.1 +0.46%
2019 42.5 +0.24% 41.2 +0.49% 43.9 +0.69%
2018 42.4 +0.47% 41 +0.49% 43.6 +0.46%
2017 42.2 - 40.8 - 43.4 -

The median age of West Virginia gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 104,891 -5.35% 99,844 -5.75% 99,373 94,225
10 to 19 111,911 +1.53% 105,361 -0.31% 113,607 104,996
20 to 29 117,828 -4.54% 112,916 -6.05% 112,560 106,232
30 to 39 109,520 -1.69% 107,277 -4.69% 107,666 102,322
40 to 49 118,371 -4.56% 116,512 -3.28% 113,060 112,726
50 to 59 129,132 -6.24% 133,980 -9.69% 121,190 121,445
60 to 69 120,785 +2.45% 127,469 +3.1% 123,767 131,463
70+ 95,183 +10.44% 125,863 +4% 105,500 130,917

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of West Virginia is $50,884.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for West Virginia.

  • Under 25
    $27,814.00
  • 25 to 44
    $59,761.00
  • 45 to 64
    $59,223.00
  • 65 and over
    $40,256.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in West Virginia, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in West Virginia, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of West Virginia is currently $69,436.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

3.84% of households in West Virginia are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of West Virginia against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    25.22%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    24.05%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.70%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.84%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.85%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4.49%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.84%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in West Virginia is $28,761.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of West Virginia by the total population of West Virginia.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in West Virginia, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in West Virginia to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    10.52%
  • Bachelor's degree
    21.41%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.17%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    55.76%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.15%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in West Virginia that are over the age of 16.

The total population of West Virginia over the age of 16 is 1,478,714.

Of those people, a total of 53.30% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in West Virginia is 49.80%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 89,866 34.90% 20.50%
20 to 24 years 110,934 71.70% 11.20%
25 to 29 years 107,858 75.80% 8.50%
30 to 34 years 103,066 75.70% 7.10%
35 to 44 years 218,005 75.30% 5.90%
45 to 54 years 232,672 72.00% 4.60%
55 to 59 years 124,666 61.20% 3.20%
60 to 64 years 132,772 45.20% 2.70%
65 to 74 years 217,726 19.40% 2.60%
75 years and over 141,149 5.60% 1.70%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in West Virginia. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 1,371,094 53.30% 6.20%
Black or African American 51,747 51.70% 9.80%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1,678 33.10% 6.10%
Asian 11,885 64.10% 2.30%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 512 11.30% 0.00%
Other 7,255 60.40% 7.90%
Two or more races 34,543 54.10% 10.40%
Hispanic or Latino 21,502 61.10% 5.80%
Not Hispanic or Latino 1,360,465 53.20% 6.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in West Virginia as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in West Virginia is 736,088, with median earnings of $35,814.00.

Women in West Virginia earning approximately 68.10% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 736,088 $35,814.00
Male 388,291 $43,016.00
Female 347,797 $29,300.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 58,566 $61,413.00
Business and Financial 28,187 $54,569.00
Computer and Mathematical 13,803 $72,194.00
Architecture and Engineering 10,922 $74,520.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 6,718 $61,043.00
Community and Social Service 14,978 $36,382.00
Legal 7,431 $69,883.00
Educational and Library 46,056 $41,825.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 8,727 $31,233.00
Healthcare Practitioners 58,818 $54,530.00
Healthcare Support 31,537 $21,274.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 9,098 $31,998.00
Law Enforcement 8,488 $54,023.00
Food Preparation and Serving 43,049 $14,091.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 28,545 $20,995.00
Personal Care and Service 17,795 $16,189.00
Sales 73,413 $24,471.00
Office and Administrative Support 82,613 $29,988.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 2,399 $27,980.00
Construction and Extraction 47,293 $50,218.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 29,848 $45,586.00
Production 41,754 $42,507.00
Transportation and Material Moving 33,916 $40,441.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 33,933 $67,959.00 24,633 $49,692.00
Business and Financial 12,304 $63,648.00 15,883 $48,898.00
Computer and Mathematical 10,497 $73,315.00 3,306 $67,730.00
Architecture and Engineering 9,381 $76,928.00 1,541 $60,523.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 3,533 $66,973.00 3,185 $57,100.00
Community and Social Service 5,405 $36,253.00 9,573 $36,454.00
Legal 3,185 $106,476.00 4,246 $58,006.00
Educational and Library 12,354 $45,145.00 33,702 $40,653.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 4,341 $37,915.00 4,386 $27,022.00
Healthcare Practitioners 13,503 $69,616.00 45,315 $51,470.00
Healthcare Support 4,701 $20,930.00 26,836 $21,326.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 7,522 $33,151.00 1,576 $24,391.00
Law Enforcement 7,290 $55,830.00 1,198 $50,617.00
Food Preparation and Serving 16,360 $14,218.00 26,689 $14,037.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 17,195 $24,963.00 11,350 $15,289.00
Personal Care and Service 4,663 $22,204.00 13,132 $15,258.00
Sales 35,292 $34,330.00 38,121 $18,241.00
Office and Administrative Support 20,221 $35,092.00 62,392 $28,256.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 1,958 $28,585.00 441 $21,146.00
Construction and Extraction 45,810 $50,532.00 1,483 $36,025.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 29,134 $45,686.00 714 $42,546.00
Production 34,736 $45,806.00 7,018 $28,394.00
Transportation and Material Moving 30,584 $42,004.00 3,332 $24,825.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 711,352 households in West Virginia, with an average household size of 2.47 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 451,212 families in West Virginia with an average family size of 3.09 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 342,161 34,150 74,901 260,140
Average Household Size 3.08 3.48 3.52 1.22
Total Families 342,161 34,150 74,901 0
Average Household Size 3.06 3.06 3.26 0

Poverty

Of the 451,212 families in West Virginia, 12.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in West Virginia:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 859,437 housing units in West Virginia.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 711,352 82.77%
Vacant 148,085 17.23%

18.24% of the total 859,437 housing units in West Virginia are rental units. This is approximately 156,728 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 525,945 are occupied by the owner - or 61.20% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in West Virginia is $770.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in West Virginia that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    28,679
  • Less than $500
    29,380
  • $500 to $999
    90,350
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    29,980
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    5,272
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    1,144
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    268
  • $3,000 or more
    334

Property Value

The median value of a property in West Virginia is $128,800.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in West Virginia that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    81,731
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    121,820
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    93,661
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    84,738
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    83,710
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    46,717
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    11,044
  • $1,000,000 or more
    2,524

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in West Virginia. The chart below shows the number of properties in West Virginia that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    133,828
  • 1940 to 1949
    60,450
  • 1950 to 1959
    92,460
  • 1960 to 1969
    76,721
  • 1970 to 1979
    138,315
  • 1980 to 1989
    104,412
  • 1990 to 1999
    115,653
  • 2000 to 2009
    95,747
  • 2010 to 2013
    41,405
  • 2014 or later
    446

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in West Virginia that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    59,467
  • 1 vehicle available
    241,110
  • 2 vehicles available
    262,542
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    148,233

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in West Virginia get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in West Virginia that commute to work in a particular way.

26 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in West Virginia.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    25,763
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    75,581
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    98,046
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    109,643
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    98,616
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    42,721
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    78,728
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    18,334
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    21,702
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    49,258
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    39,473
  • 90 or more minutes
    23,680

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for West Virginia in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Counties in West Virginia

We have data for 55 counties in West Virginia. Click on a county below to see more information about the demographics of that county, with links to cities and towns within that county.

Zip Codes in West Virginia

If you want to find out more about the population and demographics of specific zip codes in West Virginia, click on the links below.