Poverty and living standards in West Virginia, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 16.2% of people in West Virginia lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 277,324 people; 4th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in West Virginia gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for West Virginia was 16.2% (281,175 people), so the rate is unchanged over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in West Virginia?
20.1% of children under 18 in West Virginia were in poverty in 2024, about 67,980 children; 6th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 20.3% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in West Virginia?
The Gini index of household income inequality in West Virginia was 0.4668 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 25th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in West Virginia are cost-burdened?
47.0% of renting households in West Virginia spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 24.4% spent half or more; the 30% share is 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in West Virginia get food stamps?
17.0% of households in West Virginia (126,022) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 2nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 53% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 49% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in West Virginia?
An average of 272,843 people in West Virginia received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 1.7% on fiscal 2024 (277,429), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in West Virginia?
SNAP benefits paid in West Virginia totaled $558.13 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $170.47 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 5th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in West Virginia?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 1,925 people experiencing homelessness in West Virginia, up 8.2% on 2024 (1,779) and up 37.8% on 2019 (1,397); 6th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in West Virginia sleep outside?
Of those counted in West Virginia in January 2025, 1,042 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 883 (45.9%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 13th highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in West Virginia?
The January 2025 count in West Virginia included 237 people in families with children, 147 children under 18, 339 chronically homeless individuals and 106 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in West Virginia are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 13.7% of households in West Virginia were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 8th highest among the 50 states and DC and not statistically different from the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in West Virginia getting worse?
4.1% of households in West Virginia had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 15.1% in 2018-20 and 14.4% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is -1.4 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow West Virginia compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
West Virginia ranks 4 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 18.6% |
| 2 | Mississippi | 17.8% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 16.4% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 16.2% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 15.8% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 15.4% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
West Virginia ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | District of Columbia | 25.0% |
| 4 | New Mexico | 20.5% |
| 5 | Alabama | 20.4% |
| 6 | West Virginia | 20.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 19.6% |
| 8 | Kentucky | 18.9% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 18.7% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
West Virginia ranks 25 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Oklahoma | 0.4696 |
| 23 | Virginia | 0.4691 |
| 24 | Michigan | 0.4679 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 0.4668 |
| 26 | South Carolina | 0.4662 |
| 27 | Nevada | 0.4653 |
| 28 | Missouri | 0.4634 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
West Virginia ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Ohio | 47.7% |
| 36 | Minnesota | 47.7% |
| 37 | District of Columbia | 47.7% |
| 38 | West Virginia | 47.0% |
| 39 | Nebraska | 46.5% |
| 40 | Oklahoma | 46.1% |
| 41 | Arkansas | 45.5% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
West Virginia ranks 2 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico | 19.3% |
| 2 | West Virginia | 17.0% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.7% |
| 4 | Oregon | 16.4% |
| 5 | New York | 16.2% |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 15.9% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15.1% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
West Virginia ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Oklahoma | 15.4% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 14.5% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 14.4% |
| 8 | West Virginia | 13.7% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 13.1% |
| 10 | Michigan | 13.0% |
| 11 | New Mexico | 12.9% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
West Virginia ranks 46 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | New Hampshire | 2,406 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 2,373 |
| 45 | Montana | 2,263 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 1,925 |
| 47 | Delaware | 1,573 |
| 48 | South Dakota | 1,450 |
| 49 | Mississippi | 1,245 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
West Virginia ranks 13 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Nevada | 49.6% |
| 11 | Florida | 47.2% |
| 12 | Tennessee | 46.1% |
| 13 | West Virginia | 45.9% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 45.8% |
| 15 | Texas | 43.4% |
| 16 | Louisiana | 42.1% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
West Virginia ranks 33 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Minnesota | 452,645 |
| 31 | Connecticut | 369,295 |
| 32 | Mississippi | 363,309 |
| 33 | West Virginia | 272,843 |
| 34 | Iowa | 264,523 |
| 35 | Arkansas | 240,378 |
| 36 | Kansas | 187,181 |
More on West Virginia: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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