West Virginia
55 counties, 439 cities and towns, and 738 ZIP codes.
Population
1,778,373
Land area
24,041sq mi
People per sq mi
74
Cities and towns
439
Largest cities in West Virginia
West Virginia at a glance
- Households here earn a median of $59,608 a year, 26% less than the U.S. figure of $80,734.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $162,600 (51% below the U.S.) and median rent is $872 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Charleston (47,421), Huntington (45,787) and Morgantown (30,236).
Local data for West Virginia
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals55
- Emergency Rooms49
- Nursing Homes123
- Schools776
- Colleges65
- Libraries170
- Banks554
- Post Offices714
- Parks696
- Grocery Stores700
- Restaurants4,660
- Affordable Housing218
- Home Health Agencies43
- Hospice Care18
- Dialysis Centers39
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals14
- Community Health Centers528
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment167
- National Cemeteries2
- Private Schools100
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools38
- Superfund Sites14
- Toxic Release Facilities167
- Historic Places767
Housing and community stats
West Virginia, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$59,608
Poverty rate
16.7%
Median home value
$162,600
Prices +5.6% in a year
Median rent
$872/mo
Homeownership
74.9%
Bachelor's or higher
24.1%
Median age
42.7
Average commute
26.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (260,636), Irish Americans (218,888), Italian Americans (73,182).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$60,359
695,422 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,351
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$17.03B
FY 2026, $9,493 per person
PPP loans
$2.6B
33,317 loans, 327,224 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$7.53M
Itemized, 2026 cycle
Environment and hazard risk
West Virginia, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
High-risk counties
1
of 55 rated by FEMA
Storm events since 1996
28,695
149 deaths
Flood insurance policies
7,746
$378M paid since 1978
Superfund sites
14
167 toxic release facilities
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone767 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in West Virginia, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.7%
U.S. 33.3% +7.4 pts
Diabetes
15.9%
U.S. 12.1% +3.8 pts
Smoking
19.4%
U.S. 12.8% +6.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.5%
U.S. 11.1% -2.6 pts
Largest cities in West Virginia
| Name | Population | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 47,421 | 31.4 |
| Huntington | 45,787 | 16.2 |
| Morgantown | 30,236 | 10.2 |
| Parkersburg | 29,240 | 11.8 |
| Wheeling | 26,350 | 13.6 |
| Martinsburg | 18,904 | 6.6 |
| Weirton | 18,647 | 18.1 |
| Fairmont | 18,221 | 8.6 |
| Beckley | 16,818 | 9.5 |
| Clarksburg | 15,549 | 9.7 |
| Teays Valley | 14,151 | 7.3 |
| South Charleston | 13,457 | 9.8 |
| Cheat Lake | 10,902 | 14.3 |
| St. Albans | 10,522 | 3.6 |
| Vienna | 10,518 | 4 |
| Cross Lanes | 9,671 | 6.3 |
| Bluefield | 9,387 | 9 |
| Bridgeport | 9,252 | 10.6 |
| Oak Hill | 7,937 | 9.7 |
| Moundsville | 7,869 | 2.9 |
| Charles Town | 7,337 | 5.9 |
| Dunbar | 7,254 | 2.8 |
| Pea Ridge | 6,988 | 2.3 |
| Hurricane | 6,855 | 3.7 |
| Nitro | 6,853 | 5.3 |
Counties, cities and towns in West Virginia
Population shown. Largest 400 of 439 cities and towns listed
- Kanawha County176,537
- Berkeley County129,514
- Monongalia County107,163
- Cabell County92,739
- Wood County83,407
- Raleigh County73,195
- Harrison County64,984
- Jefferson County59,260
- Mercer County58,563
- Putnam County57,177
- Marion County55,909
- Ohio County41,582
- Fayette County39,519
- Wayne County38,164
- Preston County34,160
- Greenbrier County32,386
- Logan County31,418
- Marshall County29,865
- Hancock County28,431
- Jackson County27,705
- Randolph County27,576
- Mineral County26,854
- Mason County25,043
- Nicholas County24,277
- Upshur County23,712
- Hampshire County23,465
- Mingo County22,542
- Brooke County21,805
- Boone County21,026
- Wyoming County20,629
- Lincoln County19,902
- McDowell County17,943
- Morgan County17,426
- Lewis County16,740
- Taylor County16,487
- Barbour County15,424
- Hardy County14,243
- Wetzel County14,078
- Roane County13,786
- Monroe County12,386
- Braxton County12,208
- Summers County11,729
- Grant County10,983
- Ritchie County8,286
- Webster County8,144
- Tyler County8,064
- Clay County7,835
- Pocahontas County7,784
- Doddridge County7,711
- Pleasants County7,521
- Gilmer County7,288
- Tucker County6,654
- Calhoun County6,048
- Pendleton County6,043
- Wirt County5,053
Frequently asked questions
- How many counties are in West Virginia?
- West Virginia has 55 counties, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- What is the largest city in West Virginia?
- Charleston is the largest city in West Virginia, with a population of about 47,421.
- What is the population of West Virginia?
- West Virginia has about 1,778,373 residents, based on the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- How many ZIP codes are in West Virginia?
- There are 738 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in West Virginia.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey)