Population 494 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Smithers
Household size in Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.86 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.51 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Smithers is a place of small households, averaging 1.86 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.37 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.4 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.9 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.5 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.4 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 52.4, Smithers is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.8% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −12.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Smithers than nationally: 9.2%, against 11.6%.
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 Smithers
Renters in Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.1% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.8% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.7% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.4 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 24.7% of households in Smithers rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. That is in line with the rest of West Virginia. Among homeowners, 81.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.7% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.8% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 28.8% of the housing in Smithers, 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.
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 Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1949 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Smithers is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1949, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $438 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $369 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $581 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $588 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$150 | +$327 | +$606 |
Rent in Smithers runs $588 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 46.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Smithers
Bachelor's degrees in Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.3% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.1% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Smithers: 20.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.8% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.6% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.3% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.4 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Smithers is a bit above the national rate: 91.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%.
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 Smithers
| Period | Smithers | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.6% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.9 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Smithers has been low: just 0.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Smithers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithers | 1.86 | 52.4 | 9.2% | 24.7% | 28.8% | 1949 | $588 | 20.1% | 91.3% | 0.6% |
| Montgomery | 2.29 | 44.3 | 21.8% | 52.8% | 18.6% | 1969 | $677 | 27.1% | 88.9% | 8.0% |
| Cannelton | 2.24 | 51.7 | 10.2% | 26.0% | 16.6% | 1961 | $713 | 10.2% | 85.9% | 4.0% |
| Boomer | 1.97 | 51.1 | 9.2% | 25.9% | 28.8% | 1948 | $658 | 19.7% | 90.9% | 3.5% |
| Mount Carbon | 2.19 | 51.9 | 14.1% | 48.4% | 12.9% | 1969 | $699 | 26.9% | 91.9% | 3.3% |
| Handley | 3.04 | 44.5 | 16.2% | 12.9% | 22.2% | 1967 | $819 | 7.0% | 86.3% | 4.7% |
| Montgomery Heights | 2.42 | 39.4 | 16.2% | 44.7% | 16.7% | 1957 | $703 | 11.2% | 73.0% | 4.9% |
| London | 2.35 | 57.4 | 13.1% | 19.8% | 7.6% | 1978 | $585 | 3.1% | 78.6% | 3.2% |
| Hugheston | 2.36 | 55.3 | 12.3% | 19.9% | 8.1% | 1976 | $628 | 4.4% | 79.5% | 3.6% |
| Alloy | 2.41 | 46.8 | 9.4% | 32.0% | 27.7% | 1943 | $921 | 17.6% | 89.0% | 14.4% |
| Deep Water | 2.80 | 56.1 | 21.6% | 0.6% | 40.8% | 1952 | $691 | 4.4% | 84.0% | 31.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mire, LA · Peters, MI · Ogden, SC · Oakhurst, TX · Oak Forest, TX · Nicksville, AZ · New Salem, TX · Monroe, NH · Mongaup Valley, NY · Missouri City, MO
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 Smithers. 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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