1st Advantage MortgageThe median Braxton County household earns $50,331, 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
- A quick profile of Braxton County
- What Braxton County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Braxton County
- How Braxton County residents earn a living
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Braxton County towns compared
- A Braxton County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Braxton County data as a borrower
- People and households in Braxton County
- Who licenses lenders for Braxton County residents
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Braxton County
Braxton County is home to about 12,208 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 41st most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. Land area is 511 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Braxton County, Sutton leads by population with about 797; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
What Braxton County households earn
The median household income in Braxton County is $50,331; statewide it is $59,608, so Braxton County runs 16% below West Virginia as a whole.
| Household income | Braxton County | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.8% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.1% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.8% | -4.1 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 18% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 20.4%, 4 points higher than the state's 16.7%. 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 Braxton County
A typical Braxton County rental runs $606 a month including utilities, which is 31% below West Virginia. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $117,900, about 2.3 times the median household income. 77% of Braxton County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Home costs | Braxton County | West Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $606/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $117,900 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.4% | 13.6% | n/a |
Because most Braxton County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Braxton County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Braxton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by construction (14%). Construction stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Braxton County averages 9.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). Long commutes are common here: 29% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 10.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Braxton County workers | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | -5.1 pts |
| Construction | 14.2% | +7.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.1% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | +0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Gilmer County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Nicholas County, is 28 miles off. Income ranges from $42,318 in Clay County to $56,477 in Lewis County; 2 of these neighbors top Braxton County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braxton County | - | $50,331 | $606/mo | 77% |
| Gilmer County, WV | 16 mi | $47,981 | $750/mo | 76% |
| Webster County, WV | 21 mi | $43,839 | $709/mo | 77% |
| Calhoun County, WV | 23 mi | $43,980 | $473/mo | 87% |
| Lewis County, WV | 24 mi | $56,477 | $730/mo | 72% |
| Clay County, WV | 25 mi | $42,318 | $651/mo | 76% |
| Nicholas County, WV | 28 mi | $54,639 | $686/mo | 82% |
Braxton County towns compared
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Braxton County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 2,351 people, so roughly 81% of residents live outside any named place. Burnsville has the highest median household income on the list ($55,938) and Gassaway the lowest ($33,500), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $463 in Gassaway to $755 in Burnsville. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton | town | 797 | $42,817 | $684 | 2 mi |
| Gassaway | town | 688 | $33,500 | $463 | 3 mi |
| Burnsville | town | 547 | $55,938 | $755 | 12 mi |
| Flatwoods | town | 319 | $53,625 | $728 | 4 mi |
A Braxton County household budget, worked through
Braxton County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,194 gross per month ($50,331 / 12)
- Less median rent of $606, which is 14% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,198 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $606, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Braxton County data as a borrower
Where the Braxton County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 29% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Braxton County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 23% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.6, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Braxton County loan.
People and households in Braxton County
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Braxton County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.4% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.5% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.7% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.4% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Braxton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.4% |
| 60+ min | 16.0% |
Who licenses lenders for Braxton County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Braxton County, check the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Braxton County residents:
- Price the Braxton County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for West Virginia borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Braxton County household make?
About $50,331 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 16% below the West Virginia median.
How does Braxton County rent compare with West Virginia?
$606 locally versus $872 for the state, 31% below.
What are the biggest places in Braxton County?
By population: Sutton, Gassaway, Burnsville, Flatwoods. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does living in Braxton County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Braxton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Braxton County residents?
The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in West Virginia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.