1st Advantage MortgageAbout 89% of Doddridge County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $57,401. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in West Virginia before sharing details.
On this page
- Doddridge County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Doddridge County
- What Doddridge County households earn
- What it costs to live in Doddridge County
- Doddridge County towns compared
- The counties around Doddridge County
- Doddridge County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Doddridge County
- Budget math at the Doddridge County median
- Before you sign
- West Virginia rules that apply in Doddridge County
- More guides for Doddridge County
- Frequently asked questions
Doddridge County by the numbers
Doddridge County is home to about 7,711 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 49th most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. Spread over 320 square miles, that works out to roughly 24.1 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Doddridge County is not part of any metropolitan area. West Union, with about 1,039 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Doddridge County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Employment and commuting in Doddridge County
The biggest employer of Doddridge County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by transportation, warehousing and utilities (15%). Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.7% in Doddridge County. 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Only 2.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Doddridge County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.4% | -10.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 14.7% | +8.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% | +3.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Public administration | 9.0% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Doddridge County households earn
At $57,401, the typical Doddridge County household income is 13% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 21 West Virginia counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Doddridge County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.8% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.0% | -4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | +3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | +1.3 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 14.8% of Doddridge County residents in poverty, against 16.7% across West Virginia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.477 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Doddridge County
Renters in Doddridge County pay a median of $866 a month, in line with West Virginia's $872. By the Census definition, 44% of Doddridge County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $160,800, a typical Doddridge County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 89%. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Doddridge County | West Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $866/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $160,800 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 89% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.5% | 13.6% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Doddridge County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Doddridge County towns compared
Just one Census place, West Union, lies mainly within Doddridge County; it holds about 1,039 people. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Union | town | 1,039 | $60,417 | n/a | 4 mi |
The counties around Doddridge County
Distances run center to center, from Tyler County at 16 miles out to Pleasants County at 25. Income ranges from $50,582 in Ritchie County to $63,693 in Tyler County; 3 of these neighbors top Doddridge County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doddridge County | - | $57,401 | $866/mo | 89% |
| Tyler County, WV | 16 mi | $63,693 | $748/mo | 84% |
| Harrison County, WV | 17 mi | $60,377 | $879/mo | 74% |
| Ritchie County, WV | 20 mi | $50,582 | $579/mo | 84% |
| Lewis County, WV | 22 mi | $56,477 | $730/mo | 72% |
| Wetzel County, WV | 23 mi | $56,836 | $688/mo | 83% |
| Pleasants County, WV | 25 mi | $60,932 | $715/mo | 81% |
Doddridge County residents: age, schooling, coverage
14% of Doddridge County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Doddridge County | West Virginia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.9% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.5% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Before borrowing in Doddridge County
Based on the Doddridge County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 22% of Doddridge County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 46.0 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Budget math at the Doddridge County median
Doddridge County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,783 a month: gross income for a household at the Doddridge County median
- Housing at the median rent of $866 uses 18%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $856 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Doddridge County's.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Doddridge County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Doddridge County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for West Virginia borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
West Virginia rules that apply in Doddridge County
The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's West Virginia license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: West Virginia guide.
More guides for Doddridge County
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Doddridge County?
$57,401 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $59,608 for West Virginia. It ranks 22nd of 55 in the state.
How does Doddridge County rent compare with West Virginia?
$866 locally, close to the state figure.
Which towns does the Doddridge County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: West Union.
Does living in Doddridge 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 Doddridge County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Doddridge County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In West Virginia it is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions.