Cowen town, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Cowen town is a small community located in West Virginia. The total population is 560. It ranks as the 217th most populous out of 430 cities and towns in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cowen town is 36.8 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 14.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.9% 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 Cowen town is $30,625. This is 47% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 61% lower. The poverty rate stands at 31.8%. This is 91% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. 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 46.8%. This is 716% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $57,300. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Cowen town is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cowen town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (5.2% vs 2.0%).

Education

11.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 76.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cowen town, West Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 430 Census-designated places in West Virginia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.