Richwood, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

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

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 25.9% is well above the state average

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Very AffordableHome value to income ratio of 2.3x is exceptionally low

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Richwood, West Virginia had a total population of 2,403, the 65th largest city in West Virginia, with a median household income of $30,833, which is 48% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 25.9%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 48% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (25.9%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
Unemployment rate of 13.5% is notably above the national average.

Richwood Quick Facts

Population 2,403

Median Household Income $30,833

Median Home Value $70,000

Poverty Rate 25.9%

Unemployment Rate 13.5%

Median Age 46.2 years

Homeownership Rate 82.8%

Affordability Ratio 2.3x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.9%

High School Graduation Rate 90.6%

Diversity Index 4/100

Population 2,403 65th of 429

Median Income $30,833 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 25.9% 108% higher than national

Median Home Value $70,000 bottom 20%

How Richwood 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	2,617	2,403	-8.2%
Median household income	$33,614	$30,833	-8.3%
Median home value	$67,600	$70,000	+3.6%

How Richwood Compares

Median Household Income

Richwood

$30,833

$59,608

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Richwood

$70,000

$162,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 27.4%

$25K-$50K 34.9%

$50K-$100K 22.4%

$100K+ 15.3%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

5.1%

$10K-$15K

11.6%

$15K-$20K

6.4%

$20K-$25K

4.3%

$25K-$30K

22.1%

$30K-$35K

2.8%

$35K-$40K

6.2%

$40K-$45K

0.8%

$45K-$50K

3.0%

$50K-$60K

8.2%

$60K-$75K

8.4%

$75K-$100K

5.8%

$100K-$125K

4.3%

$125K-$150K

1.0%

$150K-$200K

7.2%

$200K+

2.9%

Employment

13.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%

41.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 82.8%

Renter 17.2%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $682/mo 26.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

16.9%

18-34

16.9%

35-54

29.5%

55-74

25.4%

75+

11.3%

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+)

Richwood Rankings in West Virginia

#65 Population of 429

#306 Median Income of 337

#189 Education of 429

#292 Home Value of 331

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

Other Cities in Nicholas County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Summersville	3,373	$56,571	20.3%	$230,000
Craigsville	2,190	$39,943	6.1%	$83,500
Tioga	577	$86,056	21.5%	N/A
Nettie	183	N/A	10.4%	N/A
Belva	17	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Fenwick	16	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Birch River	7	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Cities Similar to Richwood

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Spencer	2,291	$37,639	$116,800	16.7%	33.5%
Petersburg	2,384	$42,917	$124,500	14.4%	19.5%
Craigsville	2,190	$39,943	$83,500	26.4%	6.1%
Hinton	2,086	$37,610	$92,900	21.8%	35.0%
Wellsburg	2,203	$42,868	$104,500	17.3%	20.3%

Population Overview

Richwood is a small community located in West Virginia, within Nicholas County. The total population is 2,403. It ranks as the 65th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Richwood is 46.2 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. 11.3% 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 Richwood is $30,833. This is 48% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 62% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.9%. This is 55% 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 13.5%. This is 148% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $70,000. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Richwood is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Richwood has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.6%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 3.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% 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 90.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Richwood, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Richwood, West Virginia?

Richwood, West Virginia has a population of 2,403 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Richwood, WV?

The median household income in Richwood is $30,833, which is 62% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Richwood, WV?

The poverty rate in Richwood is 25.9%. This means approximately 613 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Richwood, West Virginia?

Richwood's population is 98.2% White, 0.0% Black, 0.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Richwood, WV?

The median home value in Richwood is $70,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.

How educated is Richwood, West Virginia?

16.9% of adults (25+) in Richwood hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.