Reader, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 193, Reader'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

Reader is a small community located in West Virginia, within Wetzel County. The total population is 193. It ranks as the 341st most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Reader is 57.1 years. This is 34% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. 13.5% 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 Reader is $63,942. This is 7% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.5%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 11.8%. This is 118% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $85,300. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.3x, Reader is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Reader was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

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 84.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Reader, 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.