Gary, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 861, Gary'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

Gary is a small community located in West Virginia, within McDowell County. The total population is 861. It ranks as the 166th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gary is 39.9 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 42.7 years. 10.6% 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 Gary is $41,603. This is 30% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.8%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 0.9%. This is 84% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $50,900. Housing costs are 69% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Gary is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gary is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.4% vs 3.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

11.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% 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 85.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gary, 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.