Welch, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Welch, 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 28.2% is well above the state average

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Very AffordableHome value to income ratio of 1.7x is exceptionally low

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Welch, West Virginia had a total population of 3,507, the 42nd largest city in West Virginia, with a median household income of $32,969, which is 45% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 28.2%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 45% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (28.2%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Only 5.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x.

Welch Quick Facts

Population 3,507

Median Household Income $32,969

Median Home Value $57,300

Poverty Rate 28.2%

Unemployment Rate 0.0%

Median Age 40.6 years

Homeownership Rate 75.3%

Affordability Ratio 1.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 5.0%

High School Graduation Rate 72.0%

Diversity Index 51/100

Population 3,507 42nd of 429

Median Income $32,969 bottom 20%

Poverty Rate 28.2% 126% higher than national

Median Home Value $57,300 bottom 10%

How Welch 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	3,492	3,507	+0.4%
Median household income	$36,188	$32,969	-8.9%
Median home value	$56,500	$57,300	+1.4%

How Welch Compares

Median Household Income

Welch

$32,969

$59,608

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Welch

$57,300

$162,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 41.4%

$25K-$50K 24.2%

$50K-$100K 27.6%

$100K+ 6.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.8%

$10K-$15K

33.3%

$15K-$20K

0.9%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

2.5%

$30K-$35K

9.0%

$35K-$40K

3.7%

$40K-$45K

4.3%

$45K-$50K

4.9%

$50K-$60K

13.8%

$60K-$75K

7.3%

$75K-$100K

6.5%

$100K-$125K

4.9%

$125K-$150K

1.5%

$150K-$200K

0.4%

$200K+

0.0%

Employment

0.0% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%

13.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.3%

Renter 24.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

1.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $441/mo 16.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

8.1%

18-34

25.6%

35-54

45.5%

55-74

16.5%

75+

4.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 19 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Welch Rankings in West Virginia

#42 Population of 429

#297 Median Income of 337

#332 Education of 429

#304 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 McDowell County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Gary	861	$41,603	12.8%	$50,900
War	628	$29,500	35.2%	$32,600
Crumpler	351	N/A	57.3%	$94,100
Bartley	327	N/A	94.2%	N/A
Bradshaw	327	$22,116	14.7%	$54,600
Iaeger	253	$36,591	17.8%	$57,500
Kimball	231	N/A	60.2%	$30,200
Davy	186	$32,500	0.0%	$30,800
Northfork	169	$50,208	20.3%	$33,700
Raysal	162	N/A	35.2%	$94,400

Cities Similar to Welch

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Ravenswood	3,830	$34,241	$97,600	16.4%	31.4%
Point Pleasant	3,961	$37,563	$118,000	28.2%	24.4%
Ripley	3,071	$41,518	$121,800	23.4%	27.1%
Lewisburg	3,835	$49,560	$334,900	57.8%	28.1%
Summersville	3,373	$56,571	$230,000	34.8%	20.3%

Population Overview

Welch is a small community located in West Virginia, within McDowell County. The total population is 3,507. It ranks as the 42nd most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Welch is 40.6 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 8.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Welch is $32,969. This is 45% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 59% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 28.2%. This is 69% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Welch, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $57,300. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Welch is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Welch is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (24.3% vs 3.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (9.8% vs 2.1%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

5.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 79% 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 72.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Welch, 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 Welch, West Virginia?

Welch, West Virginia has a population of 3,507 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Welch, WV?

The median household income in Welch is $32,969, which is 59% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Welch, WV?

The poverty rate in Welch is 28.2%. This means approximately 411 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Welch, West Virginia?

Welch's population is 64.8% White, 24.3% Black, 9.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.

What is the median home value in Welch, WV?

The median home value in Welch is $57,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.7x.

How educated is Welch, West Virginia?

5.0% of adults (25+) in Welch hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.