Population 107,163 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Monongalia County
Household size in Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.56 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Monongalia County is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.41, as it has nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.2 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.4 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.4 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Monongalia County is young: half of its residents are under 35.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has climbed from 33.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Monongalia County has the youngest population of any West Virginia county.
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 Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in Monongalia County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.0 points since 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 Monongalia County
Renters in Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.8% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.7% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.2% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.1% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over four in ten households in Monongalia County rent their homes (42.1%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 47.5% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other West Virginia county has 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 Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Monongalia County than nationally: 12.7%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Even so, the rate is lower than in West Virginia as a whole (14.9%).
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 Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Monongalia County are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south has the oldest housing. Few West Virginia counties have newer homes: only three of 55.
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 Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $684 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $769 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $861 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,034 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$350 | +$327 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Monongalia County costs $1,034 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in West Virginia as a whole ($905). Rent has climbed $350 a month since 2006–10, up 51%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Monongalia County
Bachelor's degrees in Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.9% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.5% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.7% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Monongalia County: 50.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 11.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other West Virginia county has a higher share of college graduates.
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 Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.6% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.1% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.8% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Monongalia County: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Monongalia County has the highest 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 Monongalia County
| Period | Monongalia County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Monongalia County than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. 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).
Monongalia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monongalia County | 2.37 | 35.4 | 8.1% | 42.1% | 12.7% | 1987 | $1,034 | 50.7% | 94.6% | 4.6% |
| Preston County | 2.42 | 44.5 | 7.8% | 18.5% | 12.9% | 1984 | $846 | 18.3% | 86.4% | 4.5% |
| Garrett County | 2.27 | 46.3 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 20.7% | 1980 | $827 | 24.9% | 90.1% | 4.8% |
| Wetzel County | 2.32 | 44.4 | 10.6% | 16.8% | 15.8% | 1962 | $648 | 18.1% | 92.0% | 5.3% |
| Tyler County | 2.51 | 46.5 | 6.6% | 15.9% | 20.2% | 1967 | $737 | 15.4% | 90.8% | 6.9% |
| Monroe County | 2.40 | 45.6 | 7.8% | 20.1% | 17.6% | 1976 | $769 | 12.0% | 90.6% | 5.9% |
| Allegany County | 2.28 | 42.9 | 11.2% | 29.3% | 15.9% | 1959 | $810 | 21.2% | 90.6% | 4.9% |
| Noble County | 2.50 | 51.2 | 5.0% | 16.5% | 17.7% | 1977 | $702 | 16.0% | 84.3% | 1.5% |
| Morgan County | 2.36 | 49.3 | 9.8% | 15.9% | 18.8% | 1986 | $876 | 18.2% | 88.9% | 3.7% |
| Morgan County | 2.40 | 44.5 | 11.5% | 21.1% | 21.3% | 1977 | $764 | 14.1% | 88.1% | 3.5% |
| Washington County | 2.55 | 41.2 | 13.5% | 33.2% | 7.6% | 1976 | $1,207 | 24.3% | 88.6% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Limestone County, AL · Putnam County, NY · Portsmouth City, VA · Miami County, OH · Mercer County, PA · Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK · Madison County, TN · Madison County, MS · Macon County, IL · Lycoming County, PA
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 Monongalia 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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