Cairo, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cairo, West Virginia had a total population of 273, the 307th largest town in West Virginia, with a median household income of $65,500, which is 10% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 4.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Cairo Quick Facts
How Cairo Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 135 | 273 | +102.2% |
| Median household income | $29,650 | $65,500 | +120.9% |
How Cairo Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 19 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cairo Rankings in West Virginia
Explore West Virginia Rankings
Other Cities in Ritchie County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisville | 1,574 | $47,768 | 25.1% | $123,000 |
| Pennsboro | 1,334 | $51,327 | 22.2% | $86,500 |
| Pullman | 286 | $53,618 | 10.1% | $78,600 |
| Ellenboro | 209 | $52,917 | 9.7% | $118,200 |
| Auburn | 91 | N/A | 76.9% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Cairo
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlton Heights | 276 | N/A | N/A | 62.0% | 0.0% |
| Brandywine | 267 | N/A | $109,800 | 0.0% | 33.0% |
| Carolina | 261 | N/A | N/A | 24.7% | 53.3% |
| Womelsdorf (Coalton) | 280 | $68,125 | $98,300 | 22.8% | 1.1% |
| Amherstdale | 256 | N/A | N/A | 8.0% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 273, Cairo's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Cairo is a small community located in West Virginia, within Ritchie County. The total population is 273. It ranks as the 307th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cairo is 46.6 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cairo is $65,500. This is 10% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.2%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Cairo, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 94.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 74.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
Cairo has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (3.3% vs 2.1%).
Education
4.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 81% 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 96.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Cairo, 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 Cairo, West Virginia?
Cairo, West Virginia has a population of 273 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Cairo, WV?
The median household income in Cairo is $65,500, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Cairo, WV?
The poverty rate in Cairo is 17.2%. This means approximately 45 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Cairo, West Virginia?
Cairo's population is 95.2% White, 0.0% Black, 3.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Cairo, WV?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Cairo — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Cairo, West Virginia?
4.6% of adults (25+) in Cairo hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.