Shepherdstown town, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Shepherdstown town is a small community located in West Virginia. The total population is 1,399. It ranks as the 114th most populous out of 430 cities and towns in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Shepherdstown town is 21.7 years. This is 49% lower than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 5.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Shepherdstown town is $62,500. This is 8% higher than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 7.8%. This is 53% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 13.2%. This is 131% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $474,500. Housing costs are 205% higher than the state median of $155,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 63.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Shepherdstown town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (11.4% vs 3.2%).

Education

71.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Shepherdstown town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 206% higher than the state rate of 23.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.4%. Notably, 37.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Shepherdstown town, West Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 430 Census-designated places in West Virginia. For official data, visit data.census.gov.