Raleigh, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 325, Raleigh'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

Raleigh is a small community located in West Virginia, within Raleigh County. The total population is 325. It ranks as the 282nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Raleigh is 37.7 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 42.7 years. 22.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Raleigh is $47,788. This is 20% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 41% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 0.3%. This is 98% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Raleigh, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $46,000. Housing costs are 72% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Raleigh is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Raleigh is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 31.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (31.4%) is well below the state average of 89.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (31.4% vs 3.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (14.8% vs 2.1%).

Education

0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Raleigh, 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.