Braxton County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Braxton 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.
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D
Braxton County Well below averageLess wealthy than 70% of counties in West Virginia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Braxton County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $50,274 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,960 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.8% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 1.8% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Braxton County is about 16% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Braxton County (3.9%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 4% of adults in Braxton County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the West Virginia average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Braxton County, West Virginia grew by 66.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $50,274 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Braxton County
| Metric | Braxton County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.568 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,942 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $38,835 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 36.3% | 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 Braxton County, it is 0.568, higher than West Virginia's 0.554, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 57% more than women's income in Braxton County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 57% wage gap accumulates to roughly $773,745 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Braxton County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 45% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 49% in 2015, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,935 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Braxton County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.5% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 411 people are unemployed in Braxton County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Braxton County is 28 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Braxton County, West Virginia has fallen from 10.0% to 9.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.8% in 2021.
Braxton County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Braxton County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 12,208 residents against a local median of 8,144. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Braxton County, WV an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 8% above the local median at 9.3% against 8.6%. Braxton County, WV has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton County, WV | 12,208 | $50,274 #3/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 9.3% #6/6 | 0.568 #3/6 |
| Gilmer County, WV | 7,288 | $47,050 | 3.3%/yr | 6.8% | 0.682 |
| Webster County, WV | 8,144 | $43,535 | 5.0%/yr | 9.2% | 0.573 |
| Lewis County, WV | 16,740 | $56,055 | 5.1%/yr | 8.6% | 0.566 |
| Nicholas County, WV | 24,277 | $54,729 | 4.2%/yr | 5.9% | 0.566 |
| Calhoun County, WV | 6,048 | $43,255 | 1.3%/yr | 8.9% | 0.587 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Braxton County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with West Virginia, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Braxton County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Braxton County, West Virginia?
Braxton County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $50,274, about 16% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How has median household income changed in Braxton County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Braxton County, West Virginia rose 66%, from $30,220 to $50,274. Over the same years, income here outpaced West Virginia as a whole: +66% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Braxton County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Braxton County, West Virginia was $44,441, up 2% from $43,378 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Braxton County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Braxton County, West Virginia was $43,929. By 2024 it had risen 14% to $50,274.
How strong is the job market in Braxton County, West Virginia?
Unemployment in Braxton County, West Virginia is 9.3%, well above the West Virginia rate of 5.4%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Braxton County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Braxton County is 0.568. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Braxton County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Braxton County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 45% to 36% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 49% in 2015, and was narrowest at 16% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,935 since 2009.
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