Brooke County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Brooke County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 22,053. It is the 28th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brooke County is 46.6 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brooke County is $52,116. This is 10% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 34% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.1%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $127,700. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Brooke County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Brooke County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.4%. The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

21.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% 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 92.4%.