Nicholas County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Nicholas 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
Nicholas County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Nicholas County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,729 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,557 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.3% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.6% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Nicholas County is about 8% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Nicholas County (4.2%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Nicholas 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 Nicholas County, West Virginia grew by 45.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,729 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Nicholas County
| Metric | Nicholas County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.566 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $73,094 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,455 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 41.9% | 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 Nicholas 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 72% more than women's income in Nicholas County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 72% wage gap accumulates to roughly $1,072,365 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Nicholas County, West Virginia has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 42%. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2023, and was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,224 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Nicholas County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.8% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 555 people are unemployed in Nicholas County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Nicholas County is 21 minutes, about the same as in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Nicholas County, West Virginia has fallen from 8.7% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.6% in 2014.
Nicholas County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Nicholas County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 24,277 residents against a local median of 12,208. Where Nicholas County, WV breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 36% below the local median of 9.2% at 5.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 7.5% on unemployment, so Nicholas County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Nicholas 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas County, WV | 24,277 | $54,729 #1/6 | 4.2%/yr #3/6 | 5.9% #3/6 | 0.566 #3/6 |
| Clay County, WV | 7,835 | $43,805 | 3.2%/yr | 11.7% | 0.587 |
| Fayette County, WV | 39,515 | $53,782 | 4.5%/yr | 5.6% | 0.545 |
| Braxton County, WV | 12,208 | $50,274 | 3.9%/yr | 9.3% | 0.568 |
| Webster County, WV | 8,144 | $43,535 | 5.0%/yr | 9.2% | 0.573 |
| Greenbrier County, WV | 32,386 | $48,009 | 2.4%/yr | 4.2% | 0.545 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Nicholas 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 Nicholas County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Nicholas County, West Virginia?
Nicholas 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 $54,729, about 8% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Nicholas County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Nicholas County, West Virginia rose 45%, from $37,726 to $54,729. Over the same years, income here lagged behind West Virginia as a whole: +45% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Nicholas County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Nicholas County, West Virginia was $49,173, up 1% from $48,822 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Nicholas County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Nicholas County, West Virginia was $40,415. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $54,729.
What is the Gini coefficient in Nicholas County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Nicholas 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 Nicholas County, West Virginia?
The income gap between men and women in Nicholas County, West Virginia has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 42%. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2023, and was narrowest at 22% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $13,224 since 2009.
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