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 2023, at 33.4%. Pleasants County had the lowest, at 8%. The median was 17.5% and the figure for West Virginia was 16.6%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest33.4Calhoun County
Lowest8Pleasants County
Median17.555 counties
West Virginia16.6History

Map of counties, 2023

Barbour County: 20.8 %Berkeley County: 11.4 %Boone County: 17.3 %Braxton County: 18.8 %Brooke County: 12.1 %Cabell County: 19.8 %Calhoun County: 33.4 %Clay County: 24.9 %Doddridge County: 14.5 %Fayette County: 18.8 %Gilmer County: 12.9 %Grant County: 13.4 %Greenbrier County: 20.7 %Hampshire County: 14.2 %Hancock County: 15 %Hardy County: 17.7 %Harrison County: 13.6 %Jackson County: 17.5 %Jefferson County: 8.8 %Kanawha County: 16.1 %Lewis County: 19.4 %Lincoln County: 20.6 %Logan County: 21.4 %McDowell County: 30.9 %Marion County: 13.6 %Marshall County: 15 %Mason County: 17.9 %Mercer County: 18 %Mineral County: 14.3 %Mingo County: 29.9 %Monongalia County: 20.5 %Monroe County: 15.7 %Morgan County: 11 %Nicholas County: 17.8 %Ohio County: 15.7 %Pendleton County: 16.3 %Pleasants County: 8 %Pocahontas County: 20.8 %Preston County: 14.2 %Putnam County: 10.7 %Raleigh County: 21.6 %Randolph County: 14.7 %Ritchie County: 21.7 %Roane County: 20.2 %Summers County: 19.2 %Taylor County: 14.7 %Tucker County: 13.2 %Tyler County: 17.7 %Upshur County: 18.3 %Wayne County: 15.7 %Webster County: 22.1 %Wetzel County: 16.6 %Wirt County: 18.3 %Wood County: 14.8 %Wyoming County: 22.6 %
  • Under 14
  • 14 to 15
  • 15 to 18
  • 18 to 19
  • 19 to 21
  • 21 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2023

Calhoun County: 33.4 %Calhoun County33.4McDowell County: 30.9 %McDowell County30.9Mingo County: 29.9 %Mingo County29.9Clay County: 24.9 %Clay County24.9Wyoming County: 22.6 %Wyoming County22.6Webster County: 22.1 %Webster County22.1Ritchie County: 21.7 %Ritchie County21.7Raleigh County: 21.6 %Raleigh County21.6Logan County: 21.4 %Logan County21.4Pocahontas County: 20.8 %Pocahontas County20.8Barbour County: 20.8 %Barbour County20.8Greenbrier County: 20.7 %Greenbrier County20.7Lincoln County: 20.6 %Lincoln County20.6Monongalia County: 20.5 %Monongalia County20.5Roane County: 20.2 %Roane County20.2Cabell County: 19.8 %Cabell County19.8Lewis County: 19.4 %Lewis County19.4Summers County: 19.2 %Summers County19.2Braxton County: 18.8 %Braxton County18.8Fayette County: 18.8 %Fayette County18.8Wirt County: 18.3 %Wirt County18.3Upshur County: 18.3 %Upshur County18.3Mercer County: 18 %Mercer County18Mason County: 17.9 %Mason County17.9Nicholas County: 17.8 %Nicholas County17.8Tyler County: 17.7 %Tyler County17.7Hardy County: 17.7 %Hardy County17.7Jackson County: 17.5 %Jackson County17.5Boone County: 17.3 %Boone County17.3Wetzel County: 16.6 %Wetzel County16.6Pendleton County: 16.3 %Pendleton County16.3Kanawha County: 16.1 %Kanawha County16.1Wayne County: 15.7 %Wayne County15.7Monroe County: 15.7 %Monroe County15.7Ohio County: 15.7 %Ohio County15.7Marshall County: 15 %Marshall County15Hancock County: 15 %Hancock County15Wood County: 14.8 %Wood County14.8Randolph County: 14.7 %Randolph County14.7Taylor County: 14.7 %Taylor County14.7Doddridge County: 14.5 %Doddridge County14.5Mineral County: 14.3 %Mineral County14.3Hampshire County: 14.2 %Hampshire County14.2Preston County: 14.2 %Preston County14.2Harrison County: 13.6 %Harrison County13.6Marion County: 13.6 %Marion County13.6Grant County: 13.4 %Grant County13.4Tucker County: 13.2 %Tucker County13.2Gilmer County: 12.9 %Gilmer County12.9Brooke County: 12.1 %Brooke County12.1Berkeley County: 11.4 %Berkeley County11.4Morgan County: 11 %Morgan County11Putnam County: 10.7 %Putnam County10.7Jefferson County: 8.8 %Jefferson County8.8Pleasants County: 8 %Pleasants County8Calhoun County: 33.4 %Calhoun County33.4McDowell County: 30.9 %McDowell County30.9Mingo County: 29.9 %Mingo County29.9Clay County: 24.9 %Clay County24.9Wyoming County: 22.6 %Wyoming County22.6Webster County: 22.1 %Webster County22.1Ritchie County: 21.7 %Ritchie County21.7Raleigh County: 21.6 %Raleigh County21.6Logan County: 21.4 %Logan County21.4Pocahontas County: 20.8 %Pocahontas County20.8Barbour County: 20.8 %Barbour County20.8Greenbrier County: 20.7 %Greenbrier County20.7Lincoln County: 20.6 %Lincoln County20.6Monongalia County: 20.5 %Monongalia County20.5Roane County: 20.2 %Roane County20.2Cabell County: 19.8 %Cabell County19.8Lewis County: 19.4 %Lewis County19.4Summers County: 19.2 %Summers County19.2Braxton County: 18.8 %Braxton County18.8Fayette County: 18.8 %Fayette County18.8Wirt County: 18.3 %Wirt County18.3Upshur County: 18.3 %Upshur County18.3Mercer County: 18 %Mercer County18Mason County: 17.9 %Mason County17.9Nicholas County: 17.8 %Nicholas County17.8Tyler County: 17.7 %Tyler County17.7Hardy County: 17.7 %Hardy County17.7Jackson County: 17.5 %Jackson County17.5Boone County: 17.3 %Boone County17.3Wetzel County: 16.6 %Wetzel County16.6Pendleton County: 16.3 %Pendleton County16.3Kanawha County: 16.1 %Kanawha County16.1Wayne County: 15.7 %Wayne County15.7Monroe County: 15.7 %Monroe County15.7Ohio County: 15.7 %Ohio County15.7Marshall County: 15 %Marshall County15Hancock County: 15 %Hancock County15Wood County: 14.8 %Wood County14.8Randolph County: 14.7 %Randolph County14.7Taylor County: 14.7 %Taylor County14.7Doddridge County: 14.5 %Doddridge County14.5Mineral County: 14.3 %Mineral County14.3Hampshire County: 14.2 %Hampshire County14.2Preston County: 14.2 %Preston County14.2Harrison County: 13.6 %Harrison County13.6Marion County: 13.6 %Marion County13.6Grant County: 13.4 %Grant County13.4Tucker County: 13.2 %Tucker County13.2Gilmer County: 12.9 %Gilmer County12.9Brooke County: 12.1 %Brooke County12.1Berkeley County: 11.4 %Berkeley County11.4Morgan County: 11 %Morgan County11Putnam County: 10.7 %Putnam County10.7Jefferson County: 8.8 %Jefferson County8.8Pleasants County: 8 %Pleasants County8
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Calhoun County33.4-0.3 pts
2McDowell County30.9-2.3 pts
3Mingo County29.9+1.2 pts
4Clay County24.9+0.3 pts
5Wyoming County22.6-1.9 pts
6Webster County22.1+4.3 pts
7Ritchie County21.7+1.4 pts
8Raleigh County21.6-0.4 pts
9Logan County21.4-2.4 pts
10Pocahontas County20.8+0.5 pts
11Barbour County20.8-1.2 pts
12Greenbrier County20.7+0.7 pts
13Lincoln County20.6+1.4 pts
14Monongalia County20.5-0.1 pts
15Roane County20.2-0.9 pts
16Cabell County19.8-0.3 pts
17Lewis County19.4+2.6 pts
18Summers County19.2-2 pts
19Braxton County18.8+0.6 pts
20Fayette County18.8-2.7 pts
21Wirt County18.3-2 pts
22Upshur County18.3+0.5 pts
23Mercer County18-0.8 pts
24Mason County17.9+1.6 pts
25Nicholas County17.8+1.1 pts
26Tyler County17.7+5.7 pts
27Hardy County17.7+0.4 pts
28Jackson County17.5-2.1 pts
29Boone County17.3+0.8 pts
30Wetzel County16.6-0.4 pts
31Pendleton County16.3-0 pts
32Kanawha County16.1-0.3 pts
33Wayne County15.7-1.1 pts
34Monroe County15.7+2.5 pts
34Ohio County15.7+0.9 pts
36Marshall County15+0.3 pts
37Hancock County15+1.5 pts
38Wood County14.80 pts
39Randolph County14.7-0.8 pts
40Taylor County14.7-2.2 pts
41Doddridge County14.5+0.1 pts
42Mineral County14.3+0.4 pts
43Hampshire County14.2-3.3 pts
44Preston County14.2+0.4 pts
45Harrison County13.6-0.1 pts
45Marion County13.6-1.3 pts
47Grant County13.4+1.7 pts
48Tucker County13.2+3.4 pts
49Gilmer County12.9+1.8 pts
50Brooke County12.1+1.1 pts
51Berkeley County11.4+0.4 pts
52Morgan County11+0.4 pts
53Putnam County10.7-0.3 pts
54Jefferson County8.8-0.3 pts
55Pleasants County8+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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/west-virginia-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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 33.4% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Pleasants County, with 8% in 2023.

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