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War, WV
City in McDowell County, West Virginia.
Population
628
Land area
0.9sq mi
People per sq mi
705
ZIP codes
0
War and its ZIP codes
War at a glance
- War is about 9.5 times as dense as West Virginia as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $29,500 a year, 51% less than the West Virginia figure of $59,608.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $32,600 (80% below West Virginia) and median rent is $703 a month.
Local data for War, WV
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
War, WV, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$29,500
Poverty rate
35.2%
Median home value
$32,600
Median rent
$703/mo
Homeownership
70.6%
Bachelor's or higher
8.0%
Median age
45.0
Average commute
36.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (156), Irish Americans (70), Italian Americans (16).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for McDowell County. PPP loans are for War.
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
War, WV, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.4%
- Carpooled14.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other8.3%
- Worked from home8.3%
Average one-way commute: 36.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
War, 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
44.6 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in War, WV, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
45.6%
U.S. 33.3% +12.3 pts
Diabetes
22.3%
U.S. 12.1% +10.2 pts
Smoking
29.3%
U.S. 12.8% +16.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.1%
U.S. 11.1% +1.0 pts
Cities near War
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BerwindCensus-designated place | 2.6 mi | 0.3 |
| CucumberCensus-designated place | 3.6 mi | 0.5 |
| BartleyCensus-designated place | 3.8 mi | 1.1 |
| RaysalCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 1.2 |
| BradshawTown | 7.4 mi | 0.8 |
| Amonate, VACensus-designated place | 8.1 mi | 0.3 |
| GaryCity | 8.4 mi | 0.8 |
| Jewell Ridge, VACensus-designated place | 9.8 mi | 0.4 |
| WelchCity | 10 mi | 7.6 |
| RoderfieldCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 0.3 |
| Big SandyCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.5 |
| KimballTown | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| DavyTown | 12 mi | 1.3 |
| PagetonCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 1.2 |
| Abbs Valley, VACensus-designated place | 13 mi | 2.3 |
| IaegerTown | 13 mi | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is War, WV in?
- War is in McDowell County, West Virginia.
- What is the population of War, WV?
- About 628 people live in War, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near War?
- Nearby places include Berwind (2.6 mi), Cucumber (3.6 mi), Bartley (3.8 mi), Raysal (5.4 mi), Bradshaw (7.4 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023