Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Counties in West Virginia

Counties in West Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Calhoun County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 55 counties in 2022, at 33.7%. Pleasants County had the lowest, at 7.7%. The median was 16.8% and the figure for West Virginia was 16.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest33.7Calhoun County
Lowest7.7Pleasants County
Median16.855 counties
West Virginia16.8History

Map of counties, 2022

Barbour County: 22 %Berkeley County: 10.9 %Boone County: 16.5 %Braxton County: 18.2 %Brooke County: 11 %Cabell County: 20.1 %Calhoun County: 33.7 %Clay County: 24.6 %Doddridge County: 14.4 %Fayette County: 21.5 %Gilmer County: 11.1 %Grant County: 11.7 %Greenbrier County: 20 %Hampshire County: 17.5 %Hancock County: 13.4 %Hardy County: 17.3 %Harrison County: 13.7 %Jackson County: 19.6 %Jefferson County: 9.1 %Kanawha County: 16.4 %Lewis County: 16.8 %Lincoln County: 19.2 %Logan County: 23.8 %McDowell County: 33.3 %Marion County: 14.9 %Marshall County: 14.7 %Mason County: 16.3 %Mercer County: 18.8 %Mineral County: 13.9 %Mingo County: 28.6 %Monongalia County: 20.7 %Monroe County: 13.2 %Morgan County: 10.6 %Nicholas County: 16.7 %Ohio County: 14.7 %Pendleton County: 16.4 %Pleasants County: 7.7 %Pocahontas County: 20.3 %Preston County: 13.8 %Putnam County: 11 %Raleigh County: 22 %Randolph County: 15.5 %Ritchie County: 20.3 %Roane County: 21.1 %Summers County: 21.2 %Taylor County: 16.9 %Tucker County: 9.8 %Tyler County: 12 %Upshur County: 17.8 %Wayne County: 16.7 %Webster County: 17.8 %Wetzel County: 17 %Wirt County: 20.3 %Wood County: 14.8 %Wyoming County: 24.4 %
  • Under 12
  • 12 to 15
  • 15 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 and over
%, 2022. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2022

Calhoun County: 33.7 %Calhoun County33.7McDowell County: 33.3 %McDowell County33.3Mingo County: 28.6 %Mingo County28.6Clay County: 24.6 %Clay County24.6Wyoming County: 24.4 %Wyoming County24.4Logan County: 23.8 %Logan County23.8Raleigh County: 22 %Raleigh County22Barbour County: 22 %Barbour County22Fayette County: 21.5 %Fayette County21.5Summers County: 21.2 %Summers County21.2Roane County: 21.1 %Roane County21.1Monongalia County: 20.7 %Monongalia County20.7Pocahontas County: 20.3 %Pocahontas County20.3Ritchie County: 20.3 %Ritchie County20.3Wirt County: 20.3 %Wirt County20.3Cabell County: 20.1 %Cabell County20.1Greenbrier County: 20 %Greenbrier County20Jackson County: 19.6 %Jackson County19.6Lincoln County: 19.2 %Lincoln County19.2Mercer County: 18.8 %Mercer County18.8Braxton County: 18.2 %Braxton County18.2Webster County: 17.8 %Webster County17.8Upshur County: 17.8 %Upshur County17.8Hampshire County: 17.5 %Hampshire County17.5Hardy County: 17.3 %Hardy County17.3Wetzel County: 17 %Wetzel County17Taylor County: 16.9 %Taylor County16.9Lewis County: 16.8 %Lewis County16.8Wayne County: 16.7 %Wayne County16.7Nicholas County: 16.7 %Nicholas County16.7Boone County: 16.5 %Boone County16.5Kanawha County: 16.4 %Kanawha County16.4Pendleton County: 16.4 %Pendleton County16.4Mason County: 16.3 %Mason County16.3Randolph County: 15.5 %Randolph County15.5Marion County: 14.9 %Marion County14.9Wood County: 14.8 %Wood County14.8Ohio County: 14.7 %Ohio County14.7Marshall County: 14.7 %Marshall County14.7Doddridge County: 14.4 %Doddridge County14.4Mineral County: 13.9 %Mineral County13.9Preston County: 13.8 %Preston County13.8Harrison County: 13.7 %Harrison County13.7Hancock County: 13.4 %Hancock County13.4Monroe County: 13.2 %Monroe County13.2Tyler County: 12 %Tyler County12Grant County: 11.7 %Grant County11.7Gilmer County: 11.1 %Gilmer County11.1Brooke County: 11 %Brooke County11Putnam County: 11 %Putnam County11Berkeley County: 10.9 %Berkeley County10.9Morgan County: 10.6 %Morgan County10.6Tucker County: 9.8 %Tucker County9.8Jefferson County: 9.1 %Jefferson County9.1Pleasants County: 7.7 %Pleasants County7.7Calhoun County: 33.7 %Calhoun County33.7McDowell County: 33.3 %McDowell County33.3Mingo County: 28.6 %Mingo County28.6Clay County: 24.6 %Clay County24.6Wyoming County: 24.4 %Wyoming County24.4Logan County: 23.8 %Logan County23.8Raleigh County: 22 %Raleigh County22Barbour County: 22 %Barbour County22Fayette County: 21.5 %Fayette County21.5Summers County: 21.2 %Summers County21.2Roane County: 21.1 %Roane County21.1Monongalia County: 20.7 %Monongalia County20.7Pocahontas County: 20.3 %Pocahontas County20.3Ritchie County: 20.3 %Ritchie County20.3Wirt County: 20.3 %Wirt County20.3Cabell County: 20.1 %Cabell County20.1Greenbrier County: 20 %Greenbrier County20Jackson County: 19.6 %Jackson County19.6Lincoln County: 19.2 %Lincoln County19.2Mercer County: 18.8 %Mercer County18.8Braxton County: 18.2 %Braxton County18.2Webster County: 17.8 %Webster County17.8Upshur County: 17.8 %Upshur County17.8Hampshire County: 17.5 %Hampshire County17.5Hardy County: 17.3 %Hardy County17.3Wetzel County: 17 %Wetzel County17Taylor County: 16.9 %Taylor County16.9Lewis County: 16.8 %Lewis County16.8Wayne County: 16.7 %Wayne County16.7Nicholas County: 16.7 %Nicholas County16.7Boone County: 16.5 %Boone County16.5Kanawha County: 16.4 %Kanawha County16.4Pendleton County: 16.4 %Pendleton County16.4Mason County: 16.3 %Mason County16.3Randolph County: 15.5 %Randolph County15.5Marion County: 14.9 %Marion County14.9Wood County: 14.8 %Wood County14.8Ohio County: 14.7 %Ohio County14.7Marshall County: 14.7 %Marshall County14.7Doddridge County: 14.4 %Doddridge County14.4Mineral County: 13.9 %Mineral County13.9Preston County: 13.8 %Preston County13.8Harrison County: 13.7 %Harrison County13.7Hancock County: 13.4 %Hancock County13.4Monroe County: 13.2 %Monroe County13.2Tyler County: 12 %Tyler County12Grant County: 11.7 %Grant County11.7Gilmer County: 11.1 %Gilmer County11.1Brooke County: 11 %Brooke County11Putnam County: 11 %Putnam County11Berkeley County: 10.9 %Berkeley County10.9Morgan County: 10.6 %Morgan County10.6Tucker County: 9.8 %Tucker County9.8Jefferson County: 9.1 %Jefferson County9.1Pleasants County: 7.7 %Pleasants County7.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Calhoun County33.7+5.3 pts
2McDowell County33.3+4.3 pts
3Mingo County28.6+0.4 pts
4Clay County24.6-1.8 pts
5Wyoming County24.4-0.9 pts
6Logan County23.8-1.9 pts
7Raleigh County22-0.5 pts
8Barbour County22+1.2 pts
9Fayette County21.5+0.5 pts
10Summers County21.2-1.4 pts
11Roane County21.1-0.2 pts
12Monongalia County20.7+1.4 pts
13Pocahontas County20.3+2.8 pts
14Ritchie County20.3+2.1 pts
15Wirt County20.3-0.6 pts
16Cabell County20.1-1.1 pts
17Greenbrier County20+1.2 pts
18Jackson County19.6+1.5 pts
19Lincoln County19.2-1.4 pts
20Mercer County18.8-0.1 pts
21Braxton County18.2-0.1 pts
22Webster County17.8-3.6 pts
23Upshur County17.8-2.2 pts
24Hampshire County17.5-0.4 pts
25Hardy County17.3-1 pts
26Wetzel County17-1.8 pts
27Taylor County16.9+0.6 pts
28Lewis County16.8-0.3 pts
29Wayne County16.7-0.6 pts
30Nicholas County16.7-1.9 pts
31Boone County16.5-1.3 pts
32Kanawha County16.40 pts
33Pendleton County16.4+0.3 pts
34Mason County16.3-0.2 pts
35Randolph County15.5+0.3 pts
36Marion County14.9+0.3 pts
37Wood County14.8-0 pts
38Ohio County14.7+1.5 pts
39Marshall County14.7+0.2 pts
40Doddridge County14.4-0.8 pts
41Mineral County13.9+1.8 pts
42Preston County13.8-0.6 pts
43Harrison County13.7-1.5 pts
44Hancock County13.4-0.7 pts
45Monroe County13.2-1.3 pts
46Tyler County12-0 pts
47Grant County11.7-0.4 pts
48Gilmer County11.1-0.7 pts
49Brooke County11-0.8 pts
50Putnam County11+0.5 pts
51Berkeley County10.9+0.2 pts
52Morgan County10.6+2.6 pts
53Tucker County9.8-0.1 pts
54Jefferson County9.1-0.6 pts
55Pleasants County7.7+0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in West Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in West Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in West Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in West Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in West Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in West Virginia by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Calhoun County, with 33.7% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Pleasants County, with 7.7% in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in West Virginia: more rankings