Handley, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 418, Handley'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

Handley is a small community located in West Virginia, within Kanawha County. The total population is 418. It ranks as the 252nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Handley is 46.4 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Handley is $105,150. This is 76% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 30% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.8%. This is 77% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Handley, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $51,500. Housing costs are 68% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 0.5x, Handley is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 96.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 28% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Handley has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 2.1%.

Education

3.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 86% 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 70.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Handley, 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.