West Dunbar, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 425, West Dunbar'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

West Dunbar is a small community located in West Virginia, within Kanawha County. The total population is 425. It ranks as the 251st most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Dunbar is 42.6 years. This is about the same as the state median of 42.7 years. Only 12.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Dunbar is $27,500. This is 54% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 66% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 46.6%. This is 179% 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 56.0%. This is 934% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $84,700. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 47.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West Dunbar is Black or African American, making up 55.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 39.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (39.5%) is well below the state average of 89.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (55.8% vs 3.1%).

Education

8.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Dunbar, 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.