McDowell County, West Virginia
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 16,878
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 16,878
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 17,147
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 19,123
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 19,119
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -11.7%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) -10.3%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 19,111
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 22,113
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.2%
Persons under 18 years, percent 18.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 22.9%
Female persons, percent 46.3%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 88.5%
Black alone, percent(a) 9.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.3%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) Z
Two or More Races, percent 1.4%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 2.7%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 86.0%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 694
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 1.6%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 9,349
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 77.3%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $50,000
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $906
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $364
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $643
Building Permits, 2025 0
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 6,467
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.44
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 93.3%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 2.4%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 86.6%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 85.5%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 75.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 6.8%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 21.8%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 9.6%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 27.1%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 29.1%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 9,768
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 78,812
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 41,077
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 104,379
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $5,862
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 36.0
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $31,559
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $17,253
Persons in poverty, percent 38.4%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 213
Total employment, 2023 2,253
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 97,628
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.5%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 438
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 249
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 2
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 35.8
Population per square mile, 2010 41.5
Land area in square miles, 2020 533.46
Land area in square miles, 2010 533.46
FIPS Code 54047