Population 304 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Vale
Household size in Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.09 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.99 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.45 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Vale run a little small, averaging 2.54 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Still, the typical household here is bigger than in West Virginia as a whole, where it has 2.43 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.09, 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 Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.6 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.8 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 59.2 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.6 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.6, Vale 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 Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Vale (14.2%), above the national share of 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 Vale
Renters in Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.7% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Vale own their homes; 30.7% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Still, renters make up a bigger share here than in West Virginia as a whole (25.1%). About three-quarters of owners (75.4%) 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 Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.5% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −23.1 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 3.4% of homes in Vale are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing.
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 Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +22 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Vale are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in West Virginia as a whole, where the median home dates to 1976.
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 Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $505 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $519 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $520 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $763 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$257 | +$327 | +$606 |
The median renter in Vale pays $763 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 39.1% of household income on rent, 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 Vale
Bachelor's degrees in Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Vale: 5.6% 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 Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.5% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.2% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 80.2% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 63.0% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a third of adults in Vale never finished high school, well above the national share: only 63.0% 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 Vale
| Period | Vale | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −11.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The survey found almost no one in Vale out of work and looking, against 5.4% of the labor force nationally. 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).
Vale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vale | 2.54 | 47.6 | 14.2% | 30.7% | 3.4% | 1981 | $763 | 5.6% | 63.0% | 0.0% |
| Spring Dale | 2.39 | 39.7 | 3.4% | 12.9% | 26.4% | 1974 | $777 | 11.6% | 82.8% | 8.1% |
| Smoot | 2.56 | 45.8 | 6.9% | 24.4% | 17.6% | 1979 | $866 | 8.1% | 81.6% | 5.3% |
| Crag | 2.53 | 47.0 | 12.6% | 29.2% | 5.9% | 1980 | $768 | 6.4% | 66.5% | 0.0% |
| Dawson | 1.93 | 58.0 | 7.9% | 3.3% | 20.8% | 1984 | $750 | 8.0% | 89.1% | 0.0% |
| Grassy Meadows | 1.82 | 59.9 | 6.6% | 0.0% | 24.1% | 1985 | $748 | 8.5% | 94.1% | 0.0% |
| Lawn | 2.22 | 55.3 | 3.1% | 13.4% | 19.8% | 1981 | $790 | 12.7% | 76.3% | 3.1% |
| Claypool | 2.44 | 50.3 | 1.5% | 16.5% | 16.0% | 1980 | $723 | 11.9% | 80.3% | 1.8% |
| Shawvers Crossing | 2.59 | 44.9 | 6.1% | 25.4% | 19.0% | 1979 | $883 | 8.4% | 83.4% | 6.1% |
| Rupert | 2.61 | 39.2 | 20.5% | 37.3% | 15.0% | 1982 | $724 | 6.6% | 75.7% | 10.5% |
| Blue Sulphur Springs | 1.90 | 59.9 | 7.2% | 4.6% | 22.9% | 1985 | $748 | 13.0% | 94.4% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Orient, WA · Obed, IL · Odessadale, GA · Office Hall, VA · Ogle, KY · Ohio, MO · Oil City, OK · Olancha, CA · Old Hickory, AR · Oliver, 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 Vale. 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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