1st Advantage MortgageThe median Barbour County household earns $51,394, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's West Virginia license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Barbour County
- How Barbour County residents earn a living
- What Barbour County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Barbour County
- Barbour County towns compared
- Barbour County next to its neighbors
- What a median Barbour County budget can carry
- Who lives in Barbour County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Barbour County borrowers
- Steps before you apply in Barbour County
- Who licenses lenders for Barbour County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Barbour County
Barbour County is home to about 15,424 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 36th most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. Land area is 341 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 45 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Barbour County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Barbour County, Philippi leads by population with about 2,861; 3 of the 5 are incorporated.
How Barbour County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 3%). The survey's unemployment rate for Barbour County averages 8.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Barbour County share | +/- vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.0% | +5.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Barbour County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Barbour County households earn
At $51,394, the typical Barbour County household income is 22% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Barbour County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.5% | +2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.3% | +6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.5% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.7% | -4.2 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 18% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 20.0% of Barbour County residents in poverty, against 16.7% across West Virginia. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Barbour County
A typical Barbour County rental runs $803 a month including utilities, which is 8% below West Virginia. 34% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 9% spend half or more. With a median value of $131,900, a typical Barbour County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Barbour County | West Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $803/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $131,900 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.3% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Barbour County towns compared
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Barbour County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 5,104 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippi | city | 2,861 | $45,879 | $775 | 3 mi |
| Belington | town | 1,781 | $48,508 | $828 | 9 mi |
| Junior | town | 281 | $21,250 | $627 | 12 mi |
| Century | CDP | 110 | $38,534 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Galloway | CDP | 71 | $54,135 | n/a | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Barbour County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (14 to 29 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Barbour County; Marion County is highest at $67,370 and Randolph County lowest at $52,757.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbour County | - | $51,394 | $803/mo | 78% |
| Taylor County, WV | 14 mi | $57,795 | $835/mo | 84% |
| Upshur County, WV | 21 mi | $54,338 | $886/mo | 81% |
| Harrison County, WV | 23 mi | $60,377 | $879/mo | 74% |
| Tucker County, WV | 24 mi | $53,358 | $656/mo | 81% |
| Randolph County, WV | 26 mi | $52,757 | $821/mo | 75% |
| Marion County, WV | 29 mi | $67,370 | $932/mo | 77% |
What a median Barbour County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Barbour County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,283 a month: gross income for a household at the Barbour County median
- Median rent: $803, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,039: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Barbour County, in numbers
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.5%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| Measure | Barbour County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.5% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.5% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Barbour County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 14.6% |
What the numbers mean for Barbour County borrowers
Based on the Barbour County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Keeping the car running. At 25% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Barbour County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Barbour County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 20% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Steps before you apply in Barbour County
A short checklist for Barbour County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Barbour County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Barbour County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for West Virginia borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Barbour County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Barbour County borrowers answers to the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the West Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Barbour County household make?
About $51,394 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% below the West Virginia median.
Is Barbour County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $803 against $872 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Barbour County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Barbour County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Philippi?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Barbour County, such as Belington, Junior, Century.
Will a Barbour County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming West Virginia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.