Sutton, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 797, Sutton'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

Sutton is a small community located in West Virginia, within Braxton County. The total population is 797. It ranks as the 172nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sutton is 53.9 years. This is 26% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 12.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.2% 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 Sutton is $42,817. This is 28% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 47% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.4%. This is 52% 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 8.0%. This is 48% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $87,700. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Sutton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 57.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sutton is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 4.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 81.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sutton, 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.