Kanawha, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 192, Kanawha'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

Kanawha is a small community located in West Virginia, within Wood County. The total population is 192. It ranks as the 343rd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kanawha is 58.8 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 3.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.7% 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 Kanawha is $60,547. This is 2% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.0%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Kanawha, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $262,500. Housing costs are 61% higher than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 94.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 26% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Kanawha was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

18.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 96.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kanawha, 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.