Raleigh County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Raleigh 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
Raleigh County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Raleigh County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,658 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,575 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.9% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.1% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.7% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Raleigh County is about 13% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Raleigh County (2.9%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Raleigh 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 Raleigh County, West Virginia grew by 36.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,658 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Raleigh County
| Metric | Raleigh County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.579 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,580 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,199 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.0% | 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 Raleigh County, it is 0.579, 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 33% more than women's income in Raleigh County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 33% wage gap accumulates to roughly $538,335 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Raleigh County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 31% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2012, and was narrowest at 13% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,168 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Raleigh County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.4% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,424 people are unemployed in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Raleigh County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Raleigh County, West Virginia has fallen from 6.1% to 5.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2019.
Raleigh County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Raleigh County, WV is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 73,194 residents against a local median of 21,027. The measure that sets Raleigh County, WV apart most is income growth: 2.9%/yr, 36% below the local median of 4.4%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.7%/yr on income growth, so Raleigh County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Raleigh County, WV has the 5th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh County, WV | 73,194 | $51,658 #4/6 | 2.9%/yr #5/6 | 5.0% #3/6 | 0.579 #5/6 |
| Fayette County, WV | 39,515 | $53,782 | 4.5%/yr | 5.6% | 0.545 |
| Wyoming County, WV | 20,629 | $48,071 | 3.9%/yr | 5.7% | 0.590 |
| Mercer County, WV | 58,563 | $52,590 | 4.4%/yr | 2.6% | 0.535 |
| Summers County, WV | 11,729 | $40,711 | 1.7%/yr | 2.2% | 0.548 |
| Boone County, WV | 21,027 | $57,090 | 5.4%/yr | 8.8% | 0.559 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Raleigh 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 Raleigh County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Raleigh County, West Virginia?
Raleigh 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 $51,658, about 13% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Raleigh County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Raleigh County, West Virginia rose 36%, from $37,891 to $51,658. Over the same years, income here lagged behind West Virginia as a whole: +36% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Raleigh County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Raleigh County, West Virginia was $51,355, up 6% from $48,498 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Raleigh County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Raleigh County, West Virginia was $43,149. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $51,658.
What is the Gini coefficient in Raleigh County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Raleigh County is 0.579. 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 Raleigh County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Raleigh County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 31% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 39% in 2012, and was narrowest at 13% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,168 since 2009.
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