Martinsburg city, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Martinsburg city is a small city located in West Virginia. The total population is 18,805. It ranks as the 6th most populous out of 430 cities and towns in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Martinsburg city is 37.5 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Martinsburg city is $54,590. This is 6% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.0%. This is 38% 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 8.0%. This is 39% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $231,900. Housing costs are 49% higher than the state median of $155,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 50.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 32% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Martinsburg city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (13.5% vs 3.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (8.0% vs 2.0%).

Education

23.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 1% 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 88.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Martinsburg city, 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.