Hardy County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Hardy County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 14,236. It is the 37th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hardy County is 47.3 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hardy County is $49,302. This is 15% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $159,700. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $155,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 79.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hardy County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (4.5% vs 2.0%). The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

15.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 86.6%.