West Virginia
With a population of 1,778,373, West Virginia is the #40 most populous state in the U.S., spanning 55 counties. The median age of residents is 42.7 years. Households earn a median income of $59,608, 21% below the national median, with a poverty rate of 16.7% and a median home value of $162,600.
Demographics
West Virginia has a population of 1,778,373, making it the #40 most populous state. The median age is 42.7 years.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Language at Home
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in West Virginia is $59,608, ranking #50 among all states. The poverty rate is 16.7% and unemployment stands at 5.4%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in West Virginia is $162,600. Renters pay a median of $872/mo and the homeownership rate is 74.9%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In West Virginia, 24.1% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 28.4% below the national average, ranking #52 out of 52 states.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in West Virginia is 72.3 years. 23.3% of adults report poor or fair health and 7.4% lack health insurance. 94.0% of residents have health insurance coverage (ACS). Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
21.0% of adults in West Virginia smoke , 40.4% are obese , and 17.3% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 80.4 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in West Virginia is 6.8 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 19.8 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 15.9 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
19.6% of children in West Virginia live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 7.5 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 23.4 per 1,000 females age 15-19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in West Virginia is 55.7%. The mean commute time is 29.0 min, which is 5.0% above the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, West Virginia voted Republican with a margin of 41.9%. The vote was 28.1% Dem / 70% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 3.0 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
Counties in West Virginia
West Virginia has 55 counties. The highest median income county is Jefferson County at $98,806.
Highest Income Counties
| 1 | Jefferson County | $98,806 |
| 2 | Berkeley County | $80,815 |
| 3 | Putnam County | $79,527 |
| 4 | Morgan County | $72,179 |
| 5 | Mineral County | $69,375 |
| 6 | Marion County | $67,370 |
| 7 | Monongalia County | $65,346 |
| 8 | Pendleton County | $64,931 |
| 9 | Tyler County | $63,693 |
| 10 | Hampshire County | $63,116 |
Lowest Income Counties
| 55 | McDowell County | $31,559 |
| 54 | Mingo County | $38,119 |
| 53 | Summers County | $40,699 |
| 52 | Pocahontas County | $42,119 |
| 51 | Clay County | $42,318 |
| 50 | Webster County | $43,839 |
| 49 | Calhoun County | $43,980 |
| 48 | Roane County | $45,778 |
| 47 | Lincoln County | $46,205 |
| 46 | Gilmer County | $47,981 |
All 55 Counties
About West Virginia
All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates. Values are estimates and subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.