Nicholas County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Nicholas County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 24,446. It is the 24th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Nicholas County is 46.0 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Nicholas County is $49,280. This is 15% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 8.6%. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $114,200. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Nicholas County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Nicholas County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.5% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.5%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.0%.

Education

19.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% 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 88.0%.