West Virginia State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 1,778,373 Household income: $59,608 Rent: $872

Overview

Total population

1,778,373

Rent

$872

Year built

1976

Household income

$59,608

Per capita income

$34,203

Poverty rate

16.7%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

40.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

West Virginia

Total population

1,778,373

Adults over 25

1,266,322

Total households

728,655

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$59,608

Per capita income

$34,203

Poverty rate

16.7%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

40.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$872

Year built

1976

Households that rent

25.1%

Households that own

74.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

90.3%

Black

3.2%

Asian

0.8%

Two or more races

4.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

2.1%

Not Hispanic or Latino

97.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

90.9%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

9.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

25.2%

High school graduate or GED

39.3%

Some college or associate degree

11.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

24.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of West Virginia with: Pennsylvania Ohio Virginia United States

West Virginia

Total population1,778,373

Rent$872

Year built1976

Household income$59,608

Per capita income$34,203

Poverty rate16.7%

Unemployment rate4.1%

Pennsylvania

Total population13,018,639

Rent$1,209

Year built1965

Household income$77,971

Per capita income$44,355

Poverty rate11.7%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Ohio

Total population11,810,293

Rent$1,034

Year built1970

Household income$71,389

Per capita income$40,552

Poverty rate13.3%

Unemployment rate4.3%

Virginia

Total population8,705,170

Rent$1,579

Year built1984

Household income$93,170

Per capita income$50,666

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate2.8%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	StateWest Virginia	StatePennsylvania	StateOhio	StateVirginia	CountyUnited States
Total population	1,778,373	13,018,639	11,810,293	8,705,170	334,922,499
Rent	$872	$1,209	$1,034	$1,579	$1,413
Year built	1976	1965	1970	1984	1980
Household income	$59,608	$77,971	$71,389	$93,170	$80,734
Per capita income	$34,203	$44,355	$40,552	$50,666	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.7%	11.7%	13.3%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	3.6%	4.3%	2.8%	4%

West Virginia is compared to its neighboring states — Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for West Virginia

West Virginia has about 1,778,373 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in West Virginia is $872, which is lower than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in West Virginia is $59,608, lower than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 16.7%, higher than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 74.9% of homes. About 25.1% of households in West Virginia are renters. Around 40.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Many homes were built around 1976, reflecting a generally older housing stock.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 24.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in West Virginia is 4.1%, very close to the U.S. rate of 4%.

West Virginia — Rent vs Household Income

West Virginia — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in West Virginia (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $872 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in West Virginia

Annual Household Income: $59,608

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in West Virginia

Estimated Rate: 16.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in West Virginia

In West Virginia, households that rent: 183,060 (25.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	183,060	25.1%
Owner-Occupied	545,595	74.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in West Virginia

In West Virginia, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 73,950 (40.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	73,950	40.4%
Other renter households	109,110	59.6%
Total renter households	183,060	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in West Virginia

Less than High School: 319,209 people (25.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 497,364 people (39.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 144,153 people (11.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 305,596 people (24.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 1,266,322

📊 Unemployment Rate in West Virginia

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.