Population 39,519 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fayette County
Household size in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Fayette County run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of West Virginia. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.2 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.5 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.0 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Fayette County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.2, as it has nationally.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Fayette County (11.0%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.7 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Fayette County
Renters in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.2% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.3% of households in Fayette County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 59.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northwest and least common in the northeast. The renter share is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Fayette County: 15.1% 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 down 1.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Fayette County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $490 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $595 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $676 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $828 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$337 | +$327 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fayette County costs $828 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $337 a month since 2006–10, up 69%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the south.
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 Fayette County
Bachelor's degrees in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Fayette County: 15.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.6 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.7% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.3% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.9% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.5% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Fayette County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 9.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fayette County is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Fayette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 2.42 | 44.5 | 11.0% | 22.3% | 15.1% | 1970 | $828 | 15.6% | 86.5% | 5.6% |
| Boone County | 2.67 | 45.0 | 10.1% | 18.7% | 22.2% | 1976 | $782 | 11.1% | 85.8% | 9.1% |
| Bath County | 2.16 | 52.2 | 9.7% | 28.7% | 43.0% | 1974 | $653 | 16.4% | 84.6% | 1.2% |
| Lawrence County | 2.58 | 42.3 | 8.1% | 22.2% | 17.0% | 1989 | $758 | 15.6% | 81.5% | 8.1% |
| Elliott County | 2.67 | 46.2 | 13.5% | 18.3% | 21.4% | 1989 | $427 | 10.0% | 80.1% | 7.4% |
| Staunton City | 2.17 | 41.6 | 12.0% | 39.1% | 10.0% | 1963 | $1,005 | 37.7% | 94.1% | 5.1% |
| Augusta County | 2.46 | 44.5 | 9.0% | 19.8% | 7.2% | 1987 | $1,131 | 25.1% | 91.8% | 2.4% |
| Morgan County | 2.67 | 40.4 | 9.1% | 21.1% | 17.3% | 1991 | $697 | 17.7% | 80.0% | 2.8% |
| Waynesboro City | 2.32 | 38.8 | 13.0% | 40.1% | 8.3% | 1973 | $1,105 | 26.4% | 89.5% | 4.9% |
| Rowan County | 2.28 | 33.8 | 13.8% | 38.5% | 12.3% | 1989 | $807 | 26.5% | 85.0% | 5.5% |
| Menifee County | 2.49 | 46.5 | 15.3% | 24.5% | 23.4% | 1988 | $609 | 15.1% | 80.9% | 7.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Chambers County, TX · Sullivan County, NH · Stokes County, NC · Stevens County, WA · Cocke County, TN · Clinton County, OH · Clinton County, IL · Clinton County, IA · Chilton County, AL · Chesterfield County, SC
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 Fayette 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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