West Hamlin, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 567, West Hamlin'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 Hamlin is a small community located in West Virginia, within Lincoln County. The total population is 567. It ranks as the 210th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Hamlin is 52.4 years. This is 23% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 11.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.5% 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 West Hamlin is $17,500. This is 71% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 78% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 39.7%. This is 138% 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 6.9%. This is 27% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $129,800. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 36.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 52% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Hamlin has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.2%.

Education

3.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 86% 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 74.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Hamlin, 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.