Wetzel County, West Virginia Income Statistics
Wetzel 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
Wetzel County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wetzel County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,259 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,226 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.7% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wetzel County is about 2% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Wetzel County (5.0%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Wetzel County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the West Virginia average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Wetzel County, West Virginia grew by 62.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,259 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wetzel County
| Metric | Wetzel County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.559 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,934 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $40,353 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 36.9% | 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 Wetzel County, it is 0.559, 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 58% more than women's income in Wetzel County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 58% wage gap accumulates to roughly $825,335 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wetzel County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 40% to 37% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2010, and was narrowest at 24% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,846 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wetzel County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.0% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 297 people are unemployed in Wetzel County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Wetzel County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wetzel County, West Virginia has fallen from 5.8% to 5.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.5% in 2016.
Wetzel County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Wetzel County, WV is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 14,078 residents against a local median of 29,868. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Wetzel County, WV an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 13% above the local median at 5.4% against 4.8%. Wetzel County, WV has the 4th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wetzel County, WV | 14,078 | $58,259 #5/6 | 5.0%/yr #4/6 | 5.4% #4/6 | 0.559 #4/6 |
| Marshall County, WV | 29,868 | $59,233 | 3.8%/yr | 4.3% | 0.546 |
| Tyler County, WV | 8,063 | $62,149 | 6.1%/yr | 7.0% | 0.575 |
| Doddridge County, WV | 7,711 | $58,094 | 5.3%/yr | 5.7% | 0.598 |
| Marion County, WV | 55,899 | $68,286 | 5.0%/yr | 4.8% | 0.528 |
| Harrison County, WV | 64,984 | $60,698 | 3.9%/yr | 4.0% | 0.550 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wetzel 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 Wetzel County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Wetzel County, West Virginia?
Wetzel 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 $58,259, about 2% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Wetzel County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wetzel County, West Virginia rose 62%, from $35,969 to $58,259. Over the same years, income here outpaced West Virginia as a whole: +62% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Wetzel County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wetzel County, West Virginia was $54,238, up 6% from $51,049 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Wetzel County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wetzel County, West Virginia was $44,296. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $58,259.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wetzel County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Wetzel County is 0.559. 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 Wetzel County, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wetzel County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 40% to 37% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2010, and was narrowest at 24% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,846 since 2009.
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