Upshur County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Upshur 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
Upshur County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Upshur County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,217 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,088 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.4% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.2% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Upshur County is about 7% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Upshur County (3.4%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Upshur 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 Upshur County, West Virginia grew by 60.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $55,217 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Upshur County
| Metric | Upshur County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.561 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $55,309 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $52,226 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 5.6% | 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 Upshur County, it is 0.561, 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 6% more than women's income in Upshur County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 6% wage gap accumulates to roughly $107,905 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Upshur County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 35% to 6% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $11,059 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Upshur County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.0% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 549 people are unemployed in Upshur County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Upshur County is 21 minutes, about the same as in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Upshur County, West Virginia has fallen from 6.0% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2017 and fell as low as 5.6% in 2021.
Upshur County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Upshur County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 23,712 residents against a local median of 16,740. Where Upshur County, WV breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 33% below the local median of 8.5% at 5.7%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.4%/yr against a local median of 4.6%/yr, 25% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Upshur County, WV is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 5.2% on unemployment, so Upshur County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Upshur County, WV has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upshur County, WV | 23,712 | $55,217 #3/6 | 3.4%/yr #6/6 | 5.7% #2/6 | 0.561 #3/6 |
| Lewis County, WV | 16,740 | $56,055 | 5.1%/yr | 8.6% | 0.566 |
| Barbour County, WV | 15,424 | $52,294 | 4.6%/yr | 8.5% | 0.581 |
| Randolph County, WV | 27,576 | $53,346 | 3.6%/yr | 7.4% | 0.555 |
| Harrison County, WV | 64,984 | $60,698 | 3.9%/yr | 4.0% | 0.550 |
| Webster County, WV | 8,144 | $43,535 | 5.0%/yr | 9.2% | 0.573 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Upshur 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 Upshur County, West Virginia.
How Wealthy Is Upshur County, West Virginia?
Upshur 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 $55,217, about 7% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Upshur County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Upshur County, West Virginia rose 60%, from $34,436 to $55,217. Over the same years, income here kept pace with West Virginia as a whole: +60% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Upshur County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Upshur County, West Virginia was $52,727, up 6% from $49,772 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Upshur County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Upshur County, West Virginia was $40,751. By 2024 it had risen 35% to $55,217.
What is the Gini coefficient in Upshur County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Upshur County is 0.561. 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 Upshur County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Upshur County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 35% to 6% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $11,059 since 2009.
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