Lewis County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Lewis 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.
-
D
Lewis County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lewis County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,055 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,362 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.2% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.6% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lewis County is about 6% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Lewis County (5.1%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Lewis 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 Lewis County, West Virginia grew by 74.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,055 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lewis County
| Metric | Lewis County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.566 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,066 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,877 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 35.4% | 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 Lewis County, it is 0.566, 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 55% more than women's income in Lewis County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 55% wage gap accumulates to roughly $916,615 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lewis County, West Virginia has widened from about 24% to 35% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 40% in 2020, and was narrowest at 18% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $18,152 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Lewis County widened by 11.2 points while West Virginia's narrowed by 8.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Lewis County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.5% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 616 people are unemployed in Lewis County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Lewis County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lewis County, West Virginia has risen from 5.4% to 8.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2023.
Lewis County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lewis County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 16,740 residents against a local median of 12,208. Lewis County, WV's unemployment, at 8.6%, runs 50% above the 5.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.1%/yr against a local median of 3.9%/yr, 31% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Lewis County, WV is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 5.3% on unemployment, so Lewis County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lewis County, WV has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County, WV | 16,740 | $56,055 #3/6 | 5.1%/yr #2/6 | 8.6% #5/6 | 0.566 #3/6 |
| Upshur County, WV | 23,712 | $55,217 | 3.4%/yr | 5.7% | 0.561 |
| Harrison County, WV | 64,984 | $60,698 | 3.9%/yr | 4.0% | 0.550 |
| Doddridge County, WV | 7,711 | $58,094 | 5.3%/yr | 5.7% | 0.598 |
| Gilmer County, WV | 7,288 | $47,050 | 3.3%/yr | 6.8% | 0.682 |
| Braxton County, WV | 12,208 | $50,274 | 3.9%/yr | 9.3% | 0.568 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lewis 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 Lewis County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Lewis County, West Virginia?
Lewis 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 $56,055, about 6% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Lewis County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lewis County, West Virginia rose 74%, from $32,190 to $56,055. Over the same years, income here outpaced West Virginia as a whole: +74% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Lewis County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lewis County, West Virginia was $52,692, up 4% from $50,479 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Lewis County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lewis County, West Virginia was $44,025. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $56,055.
Is it hard to find a job in Lewis County, West Virginia?
Unemployment in Lewis County, West Virginia is 8.6%, well above the West Virginia rate of 5.4%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lewis County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Lewis County is 0.566. 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 Lewis County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lewis County, West Virginia has widened from about 24% to 35% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 40% in 2020, and was narrowest at 18% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $18,152 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 →