West Virginia State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

The West Virginia population is a little over 1.7 million. While this is low, it represents the overall square mileage, so it makes sense. There isn't too much going on here, and most people are opting for more urban areas and states where they'll have better living opportunities. Charleston, the capital of West Virginia, is a popular destination for such individuals.

Unfortunately, the earning potential here is bleak. While this place was once a booming coal mining industry, now it is losing traction. As of 2019, most people work in construction and manufacturing, although education is also common. WV is one of the places in the United States with the lowest property tax (0.54%), at about $1,300-$1,400 per year.

The median home values have risen over 5% in the past year and are expected to grow more in 2021. Yet, the average property price is the lowest in the entire country. The average monthly rent here is $1,062, and the typical apartment size is 1,232 sq. feet. About 64% of houses are owner-occupied, according to the census of 2019.

Per the census, West Virginia unemployment is in the middle of the road, but it's not great. At over 6%, about 114,000 working-age Americans here are struggling to find work here. Compared to the national average, WV has a lower ratio of employment to the overall population. Moreover, the Civilian Labor Force has diminished by over 15,000.

The poverty rate is among the worst countrywide. Nearly 30% of Black residents live under the poverty line. Asians have the lowest rate of poor residents, at 16%. More adult-age women (19.2%) than men (15.9%) live in poor conditions. Unfortunately, WV is poorer than the median population in the United States by about 5%.

Only 19% of the adult-age population has a bachelor’s degree or higher, which reflects the low earning potential. These numbers also correlate to the poverty levels here, which can negatively impact a person's ability to pursue higher education. Only 87% of Americans in WV have a high school diploma.

According to census info, as of 2019, over 6% of local people don't have health insurance, while 44% get coverage through their employer. Over 26% of residents are on Medicaid, and 19% depend on Medicare. The quality of healthcare here is quite low, which makes sense considering that less than 20% of people have a degree in higher education.

There are 4.4 murders per 100,000 people. The crime rate is almost in the top ten for being among the lowest in the country. This may be due to the state's low population density. The most dangerous cities here are Moorefield, Huntington, and Nitro, which are also some of the cheapest places to live.

Perhaps due to fewer people living there, WV has some of the best environmental health conditions among American states. There were just 11 air quality incidents in the past year. That said, there were 565 problems with drinking water and 141 hazardous waste incidents.

About a fifth of the bridges are unsafe, and the average commute time to work is 26 minutes. The percentage of roads in poor condition is about average, which may reflect the fact that many people here have jobs in construction.