Lewis County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lewis County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 16,808. It is the 34th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lewis County is 43.2 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lewis County is $52,279. This is 10% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.4%. This is 17% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 9.4%. This is 65% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $135,800. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Lewis County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lewis County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.2%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 88.4%.