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Gary, WV
City in McDowell County, West Virginia.
Population
861
Land area
0.8sq mi
People per sq mi
1,024
ZIP codes
0
Gary and its ZIP codes
Gary at a glance
- Gary is about 14 times as dense as West Virginia as a whole.
- The median household income is $41,603, 30% below the West Virginia median of $59,608.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $50,900 (69% below West Virginia).
Local data for Gary, WV
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Gary, WV, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$41,603
Poverty rate
12.8%
Median home value
$50,900
Homeownership
95.9%
Bachelor's or higher
11.0%
Median age
39.9
Average commute
50.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (297), German Americans (24), Dutch Americans (18).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for McDowell County. PPP loans are for Gary.
Unemployment rate
10.6%
Aug 2026, -1.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,867
3,739 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$38,563
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$144M
FY 2026, $7,557 per person
How people get to work
Gary, WV, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone99.7%
- Carpooled0.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home0.0%
Average one-way commute: 50.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Gary, WV, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
456
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
422
4.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 23°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Gary, WV, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
47.1%
U.S. 33.3% +13.8 pts
Diabetes
25.7%
U.S. 12.1% +13.6 pts
Smoking
27.7%
U.S. 12.8% +14.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.1%
U.S. 11.1% +1.0 pts
Cities near Gary
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WelchCity | 3.6 mi | 7.6 |
| PagetonCensus-designated place | 4.6 mi | 1.2 |
| KimballTown | 5 mi | 0.6 |
| VivianCensus-designated place | 5.5 mi | 0.4 |
| AnawaltTown | 5.9 mi | 0.6 |
| CucumberCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 0.5 |
| KeystoneCity | 7 mi | 0.3 |
| NorthforkTown | 7.7 mi | 1 |
| WarCity | 8.4 mi | 0.9 |
| BerwindCensus-designated place | 8.8 mi | 0.3 |
| Abbs Valley, VACensus-designated place | 9 mi | 2.3 |
| Boissevain, VACensus-designated place | 10 mi | 2.1 |
| DavyTown | 10 mi | 1.3 |
| MaybeuryCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 1.7 |
| BartleyCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 1.1 |
| RoderfieldCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Gary, WV in?
- Gary is in McDowell County, West Virginia.
- What is the population of Gary, WV?
- About 861 people live in Gary, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Gary?
- Nearby places include Welch (3.6 mi), Pageton (4.6 mi), Kimball (5 mi), Vivian (5.5 mi), Anawalt (5.9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023