Fayette County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Fayette County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 39,987. It is the 13th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fayette County is 44.5 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fayette County is $52,672. This is 9% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.8%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 7.1%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $104,200. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Fayette County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fayette County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.5%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

16.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 86.1%.