Gilmer County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Gilmer County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 7,376. It is the 51st most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gilmer County is 40.7 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gilmer County is $50,991. This is 12% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 35% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 22% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 42% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $83,300. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Gilmer County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gilmer County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (14.3% vs 3.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (3.6% vs 2.0%). The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 15% 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 81.5%.