Lester town, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lester town is a small community located in West Virginia. The total population is 492. It ranks as the 233rd most populous out of 430 cities and towns in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lester town is 50.4 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. With 30.7% of the population under 18, Lester town has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lester town is $30,000. This is 48% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 62% lower. The poverty rate stands at 50.8%. This is 205% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $81,500. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Lester town is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lester town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 7.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (7.3% vs 3.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.0%.

Education

12.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% 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 77.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lester town, West Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 430 Census-designated places in West Virginia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.