Gilmer County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Gilmer 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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F
Gilmer County Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in West Virginia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Gilmer County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $47,050 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $43,498 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.3% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 2.6% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.2% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Gilmer County is about 21% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Gilmer County (3.3%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 3% of adults in Gilmer 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 Gilmer County, West Virginia grew by 91.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $47,050 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Gilmer County
| Metric | Gilmer County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.682 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $51,825 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,546 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.0% | 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 Gilmer County, it is 0.682, 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 16% more than women's income in Gilmer County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 16% wage gap accumulates to roughly $254,765 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gilmer County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 39% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 47% in 2010, and was narrowest at 0% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,524 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Gilmer County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.2% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 150 people are unemployed in Gilmer County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Gilmer County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Gilmer County, West Virginia has risen from 4.7% to 6.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.3% in 2017.
Gilmer County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Gilmer County, WV is typical in size for this group, 7,288 residents against a local median of 8,286, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Gilmer County, WV apart most is unemployment: 6.8%, 21% below the local median of 8.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income inequality tells the same story from another angle: 0.682 against a local median of 0.570, 20% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income inequality runs behind it, so Gilmer County, WV is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 7.0% on unemployment, so Gilmer County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Gilmer County, WV has the 3rd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County, WV | 7,288 | $47,050 #5/6 | 3.3%/yr #4/6 | 6.8% #3/6 | 0.682 #6/6 |
| Braxton County, WV | 12,208 | $50,274 | 3.9%/yr | 9.3% | 0.568 |
| Calhoun County, WV | 6,048 | $43,255 | 1.3%/yr | 8.9% | 0.587 |
| Ritchie County, WV | 8,286 | $51,044 | 2.9%/yr | 2.4% | 0.570 |
| Lewis County, WV | 16,740 | $56,055 | 5.1%/yr | 8.6% | 0.566 |
| Doddridge County, WV | 7,711 | $58,094 | 5.3%/yr | 5.7% | 0.598 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Gilmer County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it somewhat worse than West Virginia, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Gilmer County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Gilmer County, West Virginia?
Gilmer County has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $47,050, about 21% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
Are incomes growing in Gilmer County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Gilmer County, West Virginia rose 91%, from $24,603 to $47,050. Over the same years, income here outpaced West Virginia as a whole: +91% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Gilmer County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Gilmer County, West Virginia was $50,990, down 3% from $52,384 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Gilmer County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Gilmer County, West Virginia was $42,233. By 2024 it had risen 11% to $47,050.
Is it hard to find a job in Gilmer County, West Virginia?
Unemployment in Gilmer County, West Virginia is 6.8%, well above the West Virginia rate of 5.4%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Gilmer County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Gilmer County is 0.682. 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 Gilmer County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gilmer County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 39% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 47% in 2010, and was narrowest at 0% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,524 since 2009.
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