Berkeley County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Berkeley County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
B
Berkeley County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in West Virginia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Berkeley County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,771 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,417 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.5% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.2% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Berkeley County is about 37% higher than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Berkeley County (4.6%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Berkeley County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the West Virginia average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Berkeley County, West Virginia grew by 54.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $81,771 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Berkeley County
| Metric | Berkeley County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.517 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,137 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,903 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.5% | 23.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Berkeley County, it is 0.517, lower than West Virginia's 0.554, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Berkeley County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $393,190 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berkeley County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 25% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $55 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Berkeley County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.3% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 3,216 people are unemployed in Berkeley County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Berkeley County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Berkeley County, West Virginia has fallen from 10.1% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.6% in 2022.
Berkeley County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Berkeley County, WV is the 2nd largest of the 5 counties compared here, 129,514 residents against a local median of 77,109. Where Berkeley County, WV breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 16% above the local median of 4.0% at 4.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves sit within 0.4% of each other on unemployment, a tighter band than the gap between any of them and Berkeley County, WV, which makes it a genuine outlier here rather than one end of a wide local spread. Berkeley County, WV has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County, WV | 129,514 | $81,771 #3/5 | 4.6%/yr #2/5 | 4.7% #5/5 | 0.517 #2/5 |
| Jefferson County, WV | 59,260 | $98,855 | 4.3%/yr | 3.8% | 0.539 |
| Morgan County, WV | 17,426 | $72,049 | 6.8%/yr | 3.9% | 0.502 |
| Washington County, MD | 155,706 | $78,373 | 4.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.551 |
| Frederick County, VA | 94,959 | $97,732 | 4.4%/yr | 4.2% | 0.520 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Berkeley County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than West Virginia, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Berkeley County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Berkeley County, West Virginia?
Berkeley County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $81,771, about 37% higher than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How has median household income changed in Berkeley County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Berkeley County, West Virginia rose 55%, from $52,865 to $81,771. Over the same years, income here lagged behind West Virginia as a whole: +55% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Berkeley County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Berkeley County, West Virginia was $78,476, up 7% from $73,197 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Berkeley County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Berkeley County, West Virginia was $65,941. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $81,771.
What is the Gini coefficient in Berkeley County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Berkeley County is 0.517. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Berkeley County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Berkeley County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 25% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $55 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →