Matewan, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Matewan, West Virginia Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Matewan, West Virginia had a total population of 505, the 222nd largest town in West Virginia, with a median household income of $16,105, which is 73% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 41.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 73% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (41.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Only 3.6% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Unemployment rate of 22.0% is notably above the national average.

Matewan Quick Facts

Population 505

Median Household Income $16,105

Median Home Value $112,100

Poverty Rate 41.4%

Unemployment Rate 22.0%

Median Age 50.6 years

Homeownership Rate 49.6%

Affordability Ratio 7.0x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 3.6%

High School Graduation Rate 73.5%

Diversity Index 23/100

Population 505 222nd of 429

Median Income $16,105 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 41.4% 232% higher than national

Median Home Value $112,100 average

How Matewan Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	521	505	-3.1%
Median household income	$15,378	$16,105	+4.7%
Median home value	$102,100	$112,100	+9.8%

How Matewan Compares

Median Household Income

Matewan

$16,105

$59,608

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Matewan

$112,100

$162,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 59.8%

$25K-$50K 22.1%

$50K-$100K 13.8%

$100K+ 4.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

10.1%

$10K-$15K

33.0%

$15K-$20K

15.6%

$20K-$25K

1.1%

$25K-$30K

6.5%

$30K-$35K

0.0%

$35K-$40K

1.5%

$40K-$45K

5.1%

$45K-$50K

9.1%

$50K-$60K

2.5%

$60K-$75K

9.4%

$75K-$100K

1.8%

$100K-$125K

2.2%

$125K-$150K

0.0%

$150K-$200K

2.2%

$200K+

0.0%

Employment

22.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%

25.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 49.6%

Renter 50.4%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

7.0x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $355/mo 26.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

14.6%

18-34

9.5%

35-54

32.5%

55-74

41.2%

75+

2.2%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 19 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Matewan Rankings in West Virginia

#222 Population of 429

#336 Median Income of 337

#347 Education of 429

#174 Home Value of 331

Explore West Virginia Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Mingo County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Williamson	2,919	$21,875	49.1%	$89,600
Gilbert Creek	1,061	$82,632	11.7%	$119,400
Red Jacket	482	N/A	74.1%	$207,600
Chattaroy	467	N/A	65.7%	N/A
Delbarton	333	$40,750	30.9%	$85,000
Gilbert	308	$55,000	21.8%	$89,200
Justice	186	$44,234	19.9%	$153,300
Kermit	153	$35,750	32.0%	$112,500

Cities Similar to Matewan

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Dupont City	501	N/A	$190,900	21.6%	19.6%
Crooked Creek	517	N/A	$40,700	25.3%	33.7%
Red Jacket	482	N/A	$207,600	5.3%	74.1%
Powellton	479	N/A	$70,900	0.0%	16.5%
Chattaroy	467	N/A	N/A	22.8%	65.7%

A note before these figures: with a population of 505, Matewan's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Matewan is a small community located in West Virginia, within Mingo County. The total population is 505. It ranks as the 222nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Matewan is 50.6 years. This is 19% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 14.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Matewan is $16,105. This is 73% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 80% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 41.4%. This is 148% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. 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 22.0%. This is 306% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $112,100. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 49.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Matewan has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 8.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.3% vs 3.1%).

Education

3.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 85% 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 73.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Matewan, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Matewan, West Virginia?

Matewan, West Virginia has a population of 505 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Matewan, WV?

The median household income in Matewan is $16,105, which is 80% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Matewan, WV?

The poverty rate in Matewan is 41.4%. This means approximately 209 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Matewan, West Virginia?

Matewan's population is 87.5% White, 8.3% Black, 2.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Matewan, WV?

The median home value in Matewan is $112,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 7.0x.

How educated is Matewan, West Virginia?

3.6% of adults (25+) in Matewan hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.