Population 34,160 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Preston County
Household size in Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Preston County run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.38, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the southwest.
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 Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.9 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.6 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.5 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.2 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
Preston 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 42.3, mirroring the country.
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 Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.8% of households in Preston County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Preston County has a lower share of single-parent households than most West Virginia counties.
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 Preston County
Renters in Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Preston County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 52.4% 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, mirroring the country.
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 Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.6% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Preston County than nationally: 12.9%, 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 Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Preston County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southeast 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 Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $491 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $583 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $691 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $846 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$355 | +$327 | +$606 |
Rent in Preston County runs $846 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $355 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are 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 Preston County
Bachelor's degrees in Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Preston County: 18.3% 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 6.7 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the southwest.
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 Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.5% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.4% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.7% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.4% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Preston County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Preston County
| Period | Preston County | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Preston County runs below the national rate: 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Preston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston County | 2.42 | 44.5 | 7.8% | 18.5% | 12.9% | 1984 | $846 | 18.3% | 86.4% | 4.5% |
| Monongalia County | 2.37 | 35.4 | 8.1% | 42.1% | 12.7% | 1987 | $1,034 | 50.7% | 94.6% | 4.6% |
| Garrett County | 2.27 | 46.3 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 20.7% | 1980 | $827 | 24.9% | 90.1% | 4.8% |
| Marion County | 2.35 | 41.6 | 8.6% | 23.3% | 11.4% | 1964 | $955 | 27.8% | 92.9% | 5.1% |
| Mineral County | 2.38 | 44.2 | 10.1% | 19.0% | 11.8% | 1978 | $817 | 23.4% | 94.1% | 6.0% |
| Allegany County | 2.28 | 42.9 | 11.2% | 29.3% | 15.9% | 1959 | $810 | 21.2% | 90.6% | 4.9% |
| 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% |
| Morgan County | 2.36 | 49.3 | 9.8% | 15.9% | 18.8% | 1986 | $876 | 18.2% | 88.9% | 3.7% |
| Berkeley County | 2.58 | 39.9 | 14.1% | 24.0% | 6.5% | 1994 | $1,304 | 25.5% | 90.7% | 4.7% |
| Washington County | 2.37 | 44.6 | 11.1% | 24.6% | 11.2% | 1970 | $854 | 22.2% | 93.9% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Union County, MS · Sullivan County, NH · Summit County, UT · Suwannee County, FL · Sweetwater County, WY · Tallapoosa County, AL · Tift County, GA · Tioga County, PA · Transylvania County, NC · Trempealeau County, WI
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 Preston 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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