Kenova, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Kenova is a small community located in West Virginia, within Wayne County. The total population is 2,944. It ranks as the 52nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kenova is 42.6 years. This is about the same as the state median of 42.7 years. Only 12.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.5% 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 Kenova is $53,683. This is 10% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 46% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Kenova, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $109,000. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Kenova is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 53.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kenova has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

14.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 41% 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 93.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kenova, 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.