Population 285 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Sylvester
Household size in Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.67 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.83 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.45 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Sylvester holds 2.83 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.38 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 Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.6 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.4 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.6 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
At 40.6, the median age in Sylvester is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in West Virginia overall, where the median age is 43.2.
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 Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.4% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Sylvester than nationally: 14.4%, 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 Sylvester
Renters in Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.6% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.8% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Sylvester is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About two-thirds of owners (65.9%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.9% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +16.0 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Sylvester: 32.9% 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.
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 Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Sylvester is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $482 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $538 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $525 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $517 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$35 | +$327 | +$606 |
Rent in Sylvester runs $517 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 25.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Sylvester
Bachelor's degrees in Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.1% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Sylvester: 7.6% 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 Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.1% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.0% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.1% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 77.8% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Sylvester never finished high school, well above the national share: only 77.8% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% 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 Sylvester
| Period | Sylvester | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.8%, unemployment in Sylvester is close to the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Sylvester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvester | 2.83 | 40.6 | 14.4% | 19.8% | 32.9% | 1967 | $517 | 7.6% | 77.8% | 5.8% |
| Whitesville | 2.72 | 43.1 | 11.3% | 22.8% | 28.1% | 1968 | $595 | 11.9% | 72.1% | 6.8% |
| Janie | 2.88 | 41.0 | 16.0% | 13.0% | 29.4% | 1967 | $489 | 6.9% | 77.0% | 6.6% |
| Orgas | 2.79 | 42.1 | 11.2% | 13.2% | 26.1% | 1969 | $542 | 9.1% | 80.7% | 8.4% |
| Price Hill | 2.74 | 46.2 | 8.2% | 22.4% | 24.6% | 1971 | $1,062 | 5.5% | 77.5% | 15.9% |
| Leevale | 2.66 | 49.2 | 5.2% | 27.9% | 22.2% | 1965 | $843 | 27.8% | 72.2% | 13.9% |
| Rock Creek | 2.41 | 49.4 | 6.9% | 21.4% | 17.4% | 1981 | $578 | 9.4% | 70.7% | 1.7% |
| Prenter | 2.86 | 43.1 | 12.3% | 9.0% | 29.8% | 1969 | $489 | 7.1% | 82.1% | 11.0% |
| Kayford | 2.74 | 43.9 | 8.4% | 28.3% | 19.6% | 1956 | $775 | 9.5% | 72.9% | 3.9% |
| Maxine | 2.62 | 44.7 | 1.9% | 9.6% | 16.7% | 1974 | $640 | 13.3% | 88.2% | 12.7% |
| Seth | 2.80 | 43.1 | 10.2% | 9.9% | 26.2% | 1970 | $530 | 8.7% | 82.8% | 10.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Swan Lake, GA · Ephraim, WI · Everest, KS · Exline, IA · Extonville, NJ · Fagan, KY · Stella, VA · Stendal, IN · Stotonic Village, AZ · Stout, 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 Sylvester. 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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