Preston County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Preston 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
Preston County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Preston County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,037 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,630 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.4% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.9% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Preston County is about 4% higher than in West Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Preston County (4.1%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Preston 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 Preston County, West Virginia grew by 67.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $62,037 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Preston County
| Metric | Preston County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.571 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,103 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,051 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.9% | 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 Preston County, it is 0.571, 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 23% more than women's income in Preston County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $351,820 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Preston County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 31% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 11% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,290 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Preston County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.6% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 759 people are unemployed in Preston County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Preston County is 28 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Preston County, West Virginia has fallen from 6.8% to 5.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.1% in 2020.
Preston County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Preston County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 34,160 residents against a local median of 28,615. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Preston County, WV an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 13% below the local median at 5.3% against 6.1%. Preston 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston County, WV | 34,160 | $62,037 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #4/6 | 5.3% #3/6 | 0.571 #5/6 |
| Tucker County, WV | 6,654 | $54,502 | 2.8%/yr | 6.1% | 0.531 |
| Garrett County, MD | 28,615 | $67,609 | 4.8%/yr | 4.4% | 0.516 |
| Taylor County, WV | 16,487 | $57,966 | 3.5%/yr | 7.5% | 0.556 |
| Monongalia County, WV | 107,163 | $65,364 | 4.2%/yr | 4.7% | 0.578 |
| Fayette County, PA | 125,964 | $58,233 | 4.7%/yr | 6.2% | 0.535 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Preston County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat better than West Virginia, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Preston County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Preston County, West Virginia?
Preston 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 $62,037, about 4% higher than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How has median household income changed in Preston County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Preston County, West Virginia rose 68%, from $36,944 to $62,037. Over the same years, income here outpaced West Virginia as a whole: +68% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Preston County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Preston County, West Virginia was $61,375, up 2% from $60,198 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Preston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Preston County, West Virginia was $51,462. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $62,037.
What is the Gini coefficient in Preston County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Preston County is 0.571. 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 Preston County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Preston County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 31% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 38% in 2012, and was narrowest at 11% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,290 since 2009.
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