Rowlesburg, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 773, Rowlesburg'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

Rowlesburg is a small community located in West Virginia, within Preston County. The total population is 773. It ranks as the 175th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rowlesburg is 53.1 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. 11.6% 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 Rowlesburg is $61,964. 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 19.0%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 18.5%. This is 241% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $99,800. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Rowlesburg is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rowlesburg has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.6% of all residents.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% 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 79.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rowlesburg, 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.