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Bluewell, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Oldest CityAmong the oldest communities in West Virginia with a median age of 67.5 years

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bluewell, West Virginia had a total population of 1,992, the 80th largest community in West Virginia, with a median household income of $35,168, which is 41% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.3%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Bluewell Quick Facts

Population 1,992
Median Household Income $35,168
Median Home Value $125,500
Poverty Rate 18.3%
Unemployment Rate 2.8%
Median Age 67.5 years
Homeownership Rate 64.3%
Affordability Ratio 3.6x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.9%
High School Graduation Rate 73.3%
Diversity Index 14/100
Population 1,992 80th of 429
Median Income $35,168 bottom 20%
Poverty Rate 18.3% 47% higher than national
Median Home Value $125,500 average

How Bluewell Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population2,2811,992-12.7%
Median household income$35,599$35,168-1.2%
Median home value$137,800$125,500-8.9%

How Bluewell Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 32.8%
$25K-$50K 37.6%
$50K-$100K 25.0%
$100K+ 4.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.2%
$10K-$15K
13.5%
$15K-$20K
1.6%
$20K-$25K
10.6%
$25K-$30K
5.3%
$30K-$35K
10.8%
$35K-$40K
16.6%
$40K-$45K
2.8%
$45K-$50K
2.1%
$50K-$60K
2.9%
$60K-$75K
11.8%
$75K-$100K
10.2%
$100K-$125K
2.4%
$125K-$150K
0.0%
$150K-$200K
0.0%
$200K+
2.2%

Employment

2.8% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%
29.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 64.3%
Renter 35.7%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.6x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $728/mo 24.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

14out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 19 | National average: 61

Education

Bluewell Rankings in West Virginia

#80 Population of 429
#282 Median Income of 337
#204 Education of 429
#137 Home Value of 331

Other Cities in Mercer County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Bluefield 9,387 $49,375 18.5% $105,400
Princeton 5,736 $43,900 16.9% $120,300
Athens 1,494 $56,667 19.4% $168,100
Brush Fork 1,096 $70,098 9.2% $90,000
Lashmeet 655 N/A 13.0% $187,500
Montcalm 484 $63,024 16.5% N/A
Oakvale 254 N/A 10.3% N/A
Bramwell 135 $53,929 23.7% $93,000
Matoaka 30 $16,786 93.3% N/A

Cities Similar to Bluewell

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Hinton2,086$37,610$92,90021.8%35.0%
McMechen1,826$40,446$96,90012.7%27.5%
Craigsville2,190$39,943$83,50026.4%6.1%
Spencer2,291$37,639$116,80016.7%33.5%
Wellsburg2,203$42,868$104,50017.3%20.3%

Population Overview

Bluewell is a small community located in West Virginia, within Mercer County. The total population is 1,992. It ranks as the 80th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bluewell is 67.5 years. This is 58% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 8.7% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 33.4% 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 Bluewell is $35,168. This is 41% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 56% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.3%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $125,500. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 64.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Bluewell has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.3% of all residents.

Education

15.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% 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 73.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bluewell, 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.

Free data download: Get all West Virginia city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Bluewell, West Virginia?

Bluewell, West Virginia has a population of 1,992 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Bluewell, WV?

The median household income in Bluewell is $35,168, which is 56% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Bluewell, WV?

The poverty rate in Bluewell is 18.3%. This means approximately 364 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Bluewell, West Virginia?

Bluewell's population is 92.3% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Bluewell, WV?

The median home value in Bluewell is $125,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x.

How educated is Bluewell, West Virginia?

15.9% of adults (25+) in Bluewell hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.