Population 6,029 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wellsburg
Household size in Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.17 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.12 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.18 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Wellsburg are small: just 2.18 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.34 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.5 | 41.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.4 | 42.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.0 | 43.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.7 | 43.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.3 | +1.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 50.7, Wellsburg is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 45.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. No other West Virginia city with 5,000+ people is older.
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 Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Wellsburg as they are nationally: 11.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in West Virginia as a whole (10.4%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points, mirroring the country.
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 Wellsburg
Renters in Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.9% | 25.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.0% | 27.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 26.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.8% | 25.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Wellsburg 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 six in ten owners (60.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 1.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 15.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 15.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.2% | 16.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 14.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Wellsburg as nationally: 10.8%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in West Virginia as a whole (14.9%). Vacancy is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Wellsburg is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1956, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west. Of the 60 West Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only three have older homes.
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 Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $497 | $578 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $567 | $657 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $607 | $759 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $552 | $905 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$55 | +$327 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Wellsburg costs $552 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $55 a month since 2006–10, up 11%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 24.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Wellsburg has the lowest rents of any West Virginia city with 5,000+ people.
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 Wellsburg
Bachelor's degrees in Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 18.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 19.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 21.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.0% | 25.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Wellsburg: 21.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the west.
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 Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 82.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.3% | 84.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.1% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 89.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Wellsburg is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 7.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Wellsburg
| Period | Wellsburg | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 7.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 8.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 5.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Wellsburg runs well above the national rate: 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only two of the 60 West Virginia cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. 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).
Wellsburg 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellsburg | 2.18 | 50.7 | 11.9% | 19.8% | 10.8% | 1956 | $552 | 21.0% | 93.4% | 8.2% |
| Brilliant | 2.27 | 45.2 | 4.4% | 40.4% | 22.2% | 1950 | $607 | 7.2% | 98.1% | 4.5% |
| McKinleyville | 2.36 | 49.5 | 5.3% | 14.9% | 36.6% | 1974 | $792 | 14.0% | 84.3% | 5.0% |
| Hooverson Heights | 2.16 | 48.8 | 8.6% | 27.0% | 12.4% | 1968 | $793 | 14.3% | 87.2% | 7.4% |
| Salt Run | 2.36 | 57.3 | 3.0% | 12.1% | 1.5% | 1968 | $850 | 9.7% | 95.7% | 0.0% |
| Mingo Junction | 2.49 | 40.6 | 20.9% | 33.0% | 15.0% | 1949 | $918 | 14.3% | 90.9% | 6.9% |
| Follansbee | 2.12 | 50.1 | 7.9% | 28.7% | 8.4% | 1971 | $769 | 23.1% | 93.8% | 5.7% |
| Bethany | 2.27 | 26.5 | 3.2% | 24.1% | 7.7% | 1960 | $630 | 48.9% | 97.2% | 11.7% |
| Virginville | 2.40 | 40.8 | 4.8% | 2.7% | 5.3% | 1977 | $736 | 14.0% | 98.3% | 10.3% |
| Beech Bottom | 2.77 | 39.8 | 5.6% | 28.0% | 23.8% | 1947 | $793 | 23.8% | 96.4% | 2.8% |
| Colliers | 2.39 | 45.3 | 4.8% | 16.0% | 4.7% | 1972 | $689 | 21.2% | 94.9% | 6.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: East Petersburg, PA · Doney Park, AZ · Douglass Hills, KY · Dover, TN · Dresher, PA · Duncanville, AL · East Bernstadt, KY · East Earl, PA · East Harwich, MA · East Merrimack, NH
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 Wellsburg. 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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