Smithers, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 712, Smithers'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

Smithers is a small community located in West Virginia, within Kanawha County. The total population is 712. It ranks as the 181st most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Smithers is 52.5 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 11.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.2% 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 Smithers is $45,417. This is 24% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.7%. This is 54% 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 0.7%. This is 88% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $76,500. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Smithers is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Smithers is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (4.8% vs 3.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (14.2% vs 2.1%).

Education

22.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 6% 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 92.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Smithers, 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.