Lincoln County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lincoln County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 20,170. It is the 31st most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincoln County is 44.0 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lincoln County is $48,593. This is 16% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.6%. This is 24% 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 6.1%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $103,400. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Lincoln County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

Lincoln County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.0%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

8.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 64% 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 81.8%.