Population 16,740 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lewis County
Household size in Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Lewis County is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.43 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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 Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.2 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.6 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Lewis County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.7, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has edged down from 43.3 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the southeast.
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 Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.8% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in Lewis County (8.8%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Lewis County
Renters in Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.8% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.5% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.8% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Lewis County own their homes; 27.8% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 55.6% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. Among West Virginia's 55 counties, though, only four have a higher share of renters.
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 Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.6% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.5% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 13.8% of the housing in Lewis County, 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 has fallen 5.4 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 Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Lewis County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, 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 Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $470 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $572 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $699 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $717 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$248 | +$327 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lewis County pays $717 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $248 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the center.
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 Lewis County
Bachelor's degrees in Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.9% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Lewis County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.0%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.4 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 Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.4% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.3% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.2% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.2% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lewis County is close to the national rate: 88.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.8 points, 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 Lewis County
| Period | Lewis County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Lewis County: 8.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has risen 2.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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).
Lewis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | 2.38 | 42.7 | 8.8% | 27.8% | 13.8% | 1979 | $717 | 19.0% | 88.2% | 8.1% |
| Upshur County | 2.34 | 43.3 | 11.6% | 19.3% | 14.5% | 1977 | $875 | 18.3% | 88.2% | 5.8% |
| Gilmer County | 2.38 | 42.2 | 12.4% | 24.4% | 43.1% | 1974 | $750 | 18.5% | 86.0% | 8.5% |
| Barbour County | 2.49 | 40.7 | 13.7% | 21.7% | 14.7% | 1977 | $871 | 12.9% | 88.3% | 9.2% |
| Tucker County | 2.34 | 51.5 | 5.0% | 19.1% | 30.1% | 1974 | $678 | 23.8% | 90.5% | 6.9% |
| Wirt County | 2.52 | 46.8 | 9.6% | 12.2% | 22.9% | 1987 | $561 | 15.4% | 89.6% | 4.9% |
| Grant County | 2.47 | 48.8 | 7.4% | 18.9% | 21.1% | 1981 | $726 | 14.0% | 89.8% | 3.1% |
| Meigs County | 2.41 | 45.0 | 13.6% | 24.6% | 14.8% | 1976 | $848 | 12.6% | 86.4% | 6.1% |
| Hardy County | 2.43 | 47.4 | 8.5% | 22.7% | 27.0% | 1985 | $858 | 16.5% | 84.7% | 6.7% |
| Jackson County | 2.69 | 40.1 | 11.3% | 26.1% | 13.5% | 1980 | $768 | 16.3% | 85.2% | 3.4% |
| Frederick County | 2.70 | 42.7 | 10.8% | 20.7% | 6.5% | 1996 | $1,700 | 32.6% | 90.1% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Greene County, IL · Grant County, WV · Grant Parish, LA · Gray County, TX · Grayson County, KY · Grayson County, VA · Green County, KY · Green Lake County, WI · Greene County, AL · Greene County, IA
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 Lewis 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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