Population 8,998 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Harpers Ferry
Household size in Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.73 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.82 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.86 | 2.86 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.60 | 2.77 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Harpers Ferry average 2.60 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the wider Washington area, where it has 2.77 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.65, in line with the national trend. Of the 60 West Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only four have larger households.
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 Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.1 | 37.0 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 37.6 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.9 | 38.5 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.9 | 39.2 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +2.2 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Harpers Ferry is 43.9 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 43.1, a smaller shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the north.
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 Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 11.3% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 11.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 10.4% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | −0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Harpers Ferry as they are nationally: 11.4%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 7.8 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 Harpers Ferry
Renters in Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 34.0% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 36.6% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.1% | 36.8% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 36.3% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +2.3 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Harpers Ferry is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 28.5% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 8.7% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 7.3% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 6.6% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 5.9% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.8 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Harpers Ferry is close to the national rate: 10.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Washington area (5.9%). Vacancy has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1977 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1982 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Harpers Ferry has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1991, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
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 Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,278 | $1,470 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,126 | $1,583 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,244 | $1,907 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,134 | $2,236 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$144 | +$766 | +$327 | +$606 |
Rent in Harpers Ferry runs $1,134 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has fallen $144 a month since 2006–10, down 11%, even as the national median rose. The typical renter here spends 24.9% 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 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 Harpers Ferry
Bachelor's degrees in Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.6% | 46.6% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.8% | 48.2% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.0% | 51.0% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.6% | 53.9% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +7.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in Harpers Ferry (37.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the Washington area overall (53.9%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.9 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 Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 89.4% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.9% | 90.2% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 90.8% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.3% | 91.2% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +1.7 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Harpers Ferry is a bit above the national rate: 92.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Washington area. The share with a diploma is up 3.3 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 Harpers Ferry
| Period | Harpers Ferry | Washington area | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 6.9% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 4.7% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.8% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Harpers Ferry runs below the national rate: 4.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.1 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Harpers Ferry compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpers Ferry | 2.60 | 43.9 | 11.4% | 14.1% | 10.0% | 1991 | $1,134 | 37.6% | 92.3% | 4.0% |
| Millville | 1.81 | 47.6 | 1.5% | 49.4% | 12.7% | 1971 | $686 | 25.2% | 84.5% | 0.0% |
| Bolivar | 2.24 | 45.4 | 7.3% | 37.0% | 14.3% | 1965 | $1,560 | 41.6% | 92.7% | 4.7% |
| Ranson | 2.48 | 38.8 | 12.8% | 30.1% | 7.8% | 1994 | $1,147 | 20.8% | 82.3% | 3.3% |
| Dargan | 2.77 | 36.2 | 28.3% | 27.0% | 15.4% | 1975 | $1,659 | 24.9% | 88.1% | 0.0% |
| Shenandoah Junction | 2.71 | 41.4 | 14.9% | 14.3% | 6.9% | 1989 | $1,126 | 36.1% | 94.7% | 0.9% |
| Charles Town | 2.63 | 41.3 | 11.4% | 22.7% | 6.1% | 1994 | $1,123 | 34.5% | 90.1% | 3.4% |
| Shannondale | 2.28 | 42.2 | 8.8% | 14.4% | 14.3% | 1988 | $1,152 | 35.2% | 93.8% | 5.1% |
| Knoxville | 2.73 | 44.1 | 6.0% | 18.1% | 4.2% | 1986 | $1,427 | 45.7% | 96.6% | 6.3% |
| Yarrowsburg | 2.48 | 42.8 | 6.3% | 29.7% | 4.0% | 1969 | $1,777 | 43.9% | 97.1% | 7.2% |
| Hillsboro | 3.07 | 43.1 | 3.3% | 10.4% | 1.2% | 1999 | $2,471 | 62.3% | 97.5% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Pittsburg, TX · Old Orchard Beach, ME · Olive Hill, KY · Olivette, MO · Opp, AL · Orange Beach, AL · Orient, OH · Oroville East, CA · Peculiar, MO · Pendleton, 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 Harpers Ferry. 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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