Benwood, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Benwood is a small community located in West Virginia, within Marshall County. The total population is 1,230. It ranks as the 127th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Benwood is 51.6 years. This is 21% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 11.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Benwood is $43,636. This is 27% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.3%. This is 75% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $74,900. Housing costs are 54% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Benwood is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Benwood has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.3%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

6.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 73% lower than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Benwood, West Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.