Kanawha County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Kanawha County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 178,198. It is the 1st most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kanawha County is 43.7 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kanawha County is $58,887. This is 2% higher than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 25% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.1%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $135,000. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Kanawha County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kanawha County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 6.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (6.1% vs 3.2%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (1.2% vs 0.8%).

Education

29.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Kanawha County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 26% higher 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 90.8%.