West Union, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Union is a small community located in West Virginia, within Doddridge County. The total population is 1,039. It ranks as the 145th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Union is 41.7 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 13.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 10.9% 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 Union is $60,417. This is 1% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.9%. This is 13% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $98,600. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, West Union is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

West Union has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.8% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (5.6% vs 3.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% 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 81.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Union, 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.