Population 17,943 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in McDowell County
Household size in McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.26 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.46 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.20 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in McDowell County has 2.46 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.67, a much bigger shift than nationally. 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 McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.9 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.0 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.6 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
The median resident of McDowell County is 42.6 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 44.3 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the center.
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 McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in McDowell County (11.2%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, 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 McDowell County
Renters in McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.1% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.3% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
McDowell County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 87.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.2 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.4% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.3% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in McDowell County: 30.3% 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.4 points, 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 McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in McDowell County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1957, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing. McDowell County has the oldest homes of any West Virginia county.
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 McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $378 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $539 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $550 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $642 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$264 | +$327 | +$606 |
Rent in McDowell County runs $642 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $264 a month from 2006–10, a 70% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 36.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the southeast.
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 McDowell County
Bachelor's degrees in McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in McDowell County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 6.5%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged down 0.8 points, even as the national share rose. McDowell County has the lowest share of college graduates of any West Virginia county.
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 McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.5% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 64.8% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 69.5% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 75.7% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +15.2 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a quarter of adults in McDowell County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 75.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 15.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. McDowell County has the lowest share of high school graduates of any West Virginia county.
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 McDowell County
| Period | McDowell County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in McDowell County: 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 0.6 points, 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).
McDowell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell County | 2.46 | 42.6 | 11.2% | 22.7% | 30.3% | 1957 | $642 | 6.5% | 75.7% | 6.5% |
| Buchanan County | 2.58 | 48.6 | 12.6% | 16.9% | 26.0% | 1979 | $748 | 11.1% | 78.9% | 3.7% |
| Mercer County | 2.41 | 42.8 | 9.8% | 27.1% | 17.4% | 1973 | $824 | 22.7% | 89.2% | 2.6% |
| Pike County | 2.33 | 42.5 | 9.4% | 24.7% | 15.4% | 1985 | $803 | 18.3% | 82.9% | 4.9% |
| Giles County | 2.49 | 44.9 | 5.5% | 21.1% | 19.0% | 1971 | $799 | 18.5% | 91.4% | 2.0% |
| Knott County | 2.49 | 43.8 | 12.8% | 27.3% | 17.9% | 1983 | $780 | 20.7% | 73.4% | 9.4% |
| Craig County | 2.89 | 47.8 | 4.3% | 16.3% | 27.2% | 1981 | $706 | 19.6% | 86.6% | 2.4% |
| Perry County | 2.47 | 42.0 | 13.9% | 29.6% | 16.4% | 1984 | $786 | 14.7% | 80.1% | 5.1% |
| Salem City | 2.30 | 41.5 | 11.9% | 37.2% | 8.4% | 1967 | $1,235 | 33.7% | 93.7% | 3.3% |
| Roanoke County | 2.42 | 44.1 | 10.6% | 24.3% | 7.1% | 1979 | $1,242 | 37.1% | 94.6% | 2.8% |
| Roanoke City | 2.28 | 40.2 | 13.5% | 47.6% | 12.5% | 1959 | $1,018 | 29.7% | 89.7% | 5.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pecos County, TX · Madison Parish, LA · Magoffin County, KY · Mahaska County, IA · Manassas Park City, VA · Manistee County, MI · Marengo County, AL · Marion County, KS · Marion County, TX · Marshall County, IL
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 McDowell 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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