Population 12,208 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Braxton County
Household size in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.24 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Braxton County run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in West Virginia as a whole, where it has 2.43 people. Household size has climbed from 2.31 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.2 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.1 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.2 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Braxton County skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.9 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Braxton County: 6.3% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of West Virginia's 55 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Braxton County
Renters in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.2% of households in Braxton County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About two-thirds of owners (64.9%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.3% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Braxton County: 21.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1978 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Braxton County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $454 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $473 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $575 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $605 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$151 | +$327 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Braxton County costs $605 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $151 a month from 2006–10, a 33% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 23.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Braxton County
Bachelor's degrees in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Braxton County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 14.0%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.6 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.9% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.4% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.5% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 84.6% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in seven adults in Braxton County never finished high school, more than nationally: 84.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 10.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Braxton County has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of West Virginia counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Braxton County
| Period | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Braxton County runs well above the national rate: 10.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only three of West Virginia's 55 counties have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Braxton County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton County | 2.56 | 47.1 | 6.3% | 23.2% | 21.6% | 1977 | $605 | 14.0% | 84.6% | 10.2% |
| Roane County | 2.48 | 47.0 | 7.5% | 21.1% | 21.1% | 1975 | $623 | 15.0% | 84.5% | 8.8% |
| Pendleton County | 2.53 | 50.5 | 5.8% | 15.1% | 35.5% | 1977 | $759 | 18.3% | 89.5% | 7.7% |
| Lawrence County | 2.55 | 42.9 | 12.6% | 27.7% | 14.9% | 1975 | $866 | 18.9% | 90.4% | 2.8% |
| Greenup County | 2.42 | 44.1 | 9.3% | 19.7% | 9.5% | 1976 | $907 | 19.2% | 89.3% | 6.9% |
| Scioto County | 2.45 | 41.1 | 11.6% | 31.6% | 13.2% | 1970 | $835 | 18.3% | 88.7% | 6.1% |
| Page County | 2.45 | 46.2 | 9.9% | 28.2% | 16.8% | 1973 | $882 | 14.3% | 82.5% | 5.6% |
| Rappahannock County | 2.63 | 50.4 | 9.6% | 26.6% | 22.6% | 1981 | $1,402 | 32.5% | 91.1% | 9.7% |
| Lewis County | 2.54 | 41.8 | 12.1% | 20.8% | 14.5% | 1985 | $729 | 16.2% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Fauquier County | 2.84 | 42.4 | 8.5% | 21.2% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,817 | 40.7% | 92.3% | 2.7% |
| Mason County | 2.40 | 43.2 | 11.7% | 33.9% | 12.7% | 1979 | $757 | 19.9% | 86.4% | 5.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Holt County, MO · Logan County, KS · Lincoln County, ID · Lincoln County, CO · Liberty County, FL · Lewis County, ID · Lampasas County, TX · Kewaunee County, WI · Inyo County, CA · Idaho County, ID
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Braxton County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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