Braxton County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Braxton County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 12,345. It is the 41st most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Braxton County is 46.7 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. 10.3% 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 Braxton County is $44,449. This is 23% lower than the state median of $57,917. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 18.8%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 12.8%. This is 123% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $106,400. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Braxton County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Braxton County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.9%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

11.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 23.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Braxton County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against West Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.