Peterstown, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 594, Peterstown'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

Peterstown is a small community located in West Virginia, within Monroe County. The total population is 594. It ranks as the 204th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Peterstown is 21.8 years. This is 49% lower than the state median of 42.7 years. With 47.8% of the population under 18, Peterstown has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Peterstown is $38,750. This is 35% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 52% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.1%. This is 32% 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 16.2%. This is 199% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $116,800. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Peterstown is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (13.1% vs 3.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (5.4% vs 2.1%).

Education

8.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 64% 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 80.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Peterstown, 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.