Preston County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

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

Preston County, West Virginia has a population of 34,160, the 15th most populous county in West Virginia. The median household income is $61,880 and the median home value is $162,800. The poverty rate is 13.8%.

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

Preston County Quick Facts

Population 34,160

Median Household Income $61,880

Median Home Value $162,800

Poverty Rate 13.8%

Unemployment Rate 5.3%

Median Age 43.3 years

Homeownership Rate 81.5%

Affordability Ratio 2.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 17.5%

High School Graduation 86.2%

Cities/Places 12

Population 34,160 15th of 55

Median Income $61,880 4% higher than state

Poverty Rate 13.8%

Unemployment 5.3%

How Preston County 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	34,204	34,160	-0.1%
Median household income	$61,373	$61,880	+0.8%
Median home value	$157,700	$162,800	+3.2%

Median Household Income

Preston

$61,880

$59,608

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Preston

$162,800

$162,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.0%

$25K-$50K 22.8%

$50K-$100K 32.3%

$100K+ 27.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.6%

$10K-$15K

4.0%

$15K-$20K

3.6%

$20K-$25K

2.7%

$25K-$30K

4.6%

$30K-$35K

4.8%

$35K-$40K

4.5%

$40K-$45K

4.7%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

8.8%

$60K-$75K

10.2%

$75K-$100K

13.2%

$100K-$125K

10.7%

$125K-$150K

7.0%

$150K-$200K

6.3%

$200K+

3.9%

Employment

5.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%

49.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.5%

Renter 18.5%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $750/mo 14.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.9%

18-34

20.8%

35-54

27.2%

55-74

26.3%

75+

7.9%

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+)

Cities & Places in Preston County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Kingwood	2,973	$71,154	16.2%	$162,000
Terra Alta	1,841	$50,536	29.1%	$95,200
Arthurdale	982	$81,285	7.2%	$153,900
Rowlesburg	773	$61,964	19.0%	$99,800
Masontown	518	$54,643	9.3%	$120,500
Reedsville	504	$66,125	3.7%	$182,400
Tunnelton	404	$65,565	7.9%	N/A
Aurora	284	$55,444	22.9%	N/A
Albright	254	$60,000	22.4%	$39,000
Newburg	226	$51,821	11.1%	$46,100
Brandonville	166	$76,250	10.8%	$181,300
Bruceton Mills	71	$101,000	4.2%	$129,200

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

Population Overview

Preston County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 34,160. It is the 15th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Preston County is 43.3 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Preston County is $61,880. This is 4% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is 18% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $162,800. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Preston County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Preston County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 6.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (6.5% vs 3.1%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% 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 86.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Preston County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against West Virginia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Preston County, West Virginia?

Preston County has a population of 34,160, making it the 15th most populous county in West Virginia.

What is the median income in Preston County?

The median household income in Preston County is $61,880 with a poverty rate of 13.8%.

How many cities are in Preston County, West Virginia?

Preston County contains 12 Census-designated places.