McDowell County, West Virginia
WV · FIPS 54047 · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
| Metric | Value | vs National | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 17,943 | — | #1,993 / 3,222 | |
| Median Household Income | $31,559 | -58.0% | #3,142 / 3,222 | |
| Median Age | 43.7 years | +12.3% | #1,026 / 3,222 | |
| Median Home Value | $50,000 | -82.3% | #3,216 / 3,222 | |
| Median Gross Rent | $643 | -44.7% | #2,964 / 3,222 | |
| Poverty Rate | 34.2% | +171.2% | #3,134 / 3,222 | |
Demographics
McDowell County has a population of 17,943, making it the #1,993 most populous county in the US. The median age is 43.7 years, which is 12.3% above the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Household Type
Economy
The median household income in McDowell County is $31,559, ranking #3,142 out of 3,222 counties — 58.0% below the national median. The poverty rate is 34.2% and unemployment stands at 8.2%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Poverty Rate Trend
Rankings →Housing
The median home value in McDowell County is $50,000 (-82.3% vs national). Renters pay a median of $643/mo and the homeownership rate is 77.3%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Health
91.2% of residents in McDowell County have health insurance coverage, which is 0.6% below the national rate.
About McDowell County, West Virginia
McDowell County, West Virginia has a total population of 17,943, making it the 1,993rd most populous county in the United States. The median age in McDowell County is 43.7 years, which is 12.3% above the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in McDowell County is $31,559, which ranks #3,142 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 58.0% below the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 34.2%, higher than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 8.2%.
The median home value in McDowell County is $50,000, 82.3% below the national median. Renters in McDowell County pay a median gross rent of $643 per month. The homeownership rate is 77.3%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In McDowell County, 6.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 79.9% below the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 91.2% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 39.5 min.
McDowell County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is White (non-Hispanic) at 86.5% of the population, followed by Black (non-Hispanic) (8.8%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
All data for McDowell County, West Virginia comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.