Wheeling, West Virginia Income Statistics
Wheeling Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
D
Wheeling Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wheeling | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $47,354 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,206 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.4% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.3% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.7% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wheeling is about 21% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing slower in Wheeling (3.4%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Wheeling 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 Wheeling, West Virginia grew by 49.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $47,354 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wheeling
| Metric | Wheeling | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,524 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,715 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.0% | 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 Wheeling, it is 0.554, about the same as West Virginia's 0.554, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in Wheeling, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $168,315 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wheeling, West Virginia has narrowed from about 32% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,689 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wheeling | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.8% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 650 people are unemployed in Wheeling, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Wheeling is 15 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wheeling, West Virginia has risen from 6.6% to 6.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.6% in 2017.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wheeling, 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 Wheeling, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Wheeling, West Virginia?
Wheeling 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 $47,354, about 21% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
Are incomes growing in Wheeling, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wheeling, West Virginia rose 49%, from $31,722 to $47,354. Over the same years, income here lagged behind West Virginia as a whole: +49% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Wheeling in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wheeling, West Virginia was $47,173, up 3% from $45,844 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Wheeling in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wheeling, West Virginia was $40,511. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $47,354.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wheeling, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Wheeling is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Wheeling, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wheeling, West Virginia has narrowed from about 32% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $7,689 since 2009.
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