1st Advantage MortgageGilmer County households have a median income of $47,981 and median rent of $750 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Gilmer County, WV: the basics
- How much Gilmer County households make
- What it costs to live in Gilmer County
- How Gilmer County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Gilmer County
- Gilmer County and the counties next door
- Room for a loan payment in Gilmer County
- Gilmer County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Gilmer County
- Steps before you apply in Gilmer County
- Who licenses lenders for Gilmer County residents
- More guides for Gilmer County
- Frequently asked questions
Gilmer County, WV: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Gilmer County's population at 7,288; only 50 of West Virginia's 55 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 339 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.5 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Glenville is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 1,037 people (14% of the county total). Because Gilmer County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How much Gilmer County households make
Half of Gilmer County households take in less than $47,981 a year and half take in more, 20% below the West Virginia median of $59,608.
| Band | Gilmer County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.6% | +10.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.8% | -8.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.2% | -3.7 pts |
Some 41% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 15% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 19.0% of Gilmer County residents in poverty, against 16.7% across West Virginia. None of these numbers decides a Gilmer County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Gilmer County
A typical Gilmer County rental runs $750 a month including utilities, which is 14% below West Virginia. By the Census definition, 22% of Gilmer County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $83,800, or 1.7 years of median income. 76% of Gilmer County households own their home and 24% rent. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Gilmer County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $750/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $83,800 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 22% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.4% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 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).
How Gilmer County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 41% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 11%. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward education and health care (41% against 28%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.8% in Gilmer County. 30% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. Only 9.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Gilmer County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 40.7% | +12.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.0% | +7.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 8.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -3.8 pts |
| Construction | 5.3% | -1.4 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Gilmer County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Gilmer County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 1,133 residents, leaving about 84% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenville | town | 1,037 | $47,422 | $872 | 2 mi |
| Sand Fork | town | 96 | $35,938 | $659 | 6 mi |
Gilmer County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 30 miles). Doddridge County leads the group on income ($57,401), Calhoun County trails ($43,980), and Gilmer County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County | - | $47,981 | $750/mo | 76% |
| Calhoun County, WV | 15 mi | $43,980 | $473/mo | 87% |
| Braxton County, WV | 16 mi | $50,331 | $606/mo | 77% |
| Lewis County, WV | 20 mi | $56,477 | $730/mo | 72% |
| Ritchie County, WV | 21 mi | $50,582 | $579/mo | 84% |
| Doddridge County, WV | 25 mi | $57,401 | $866/mo | 89% |
| Wirt County, WV | 30 mi | $49,867 | $558/mo | 88% |
Room for a loan payment in Gilmer County
Here is the Gilmer County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,998 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $750, takes 19% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $689 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Gilmer County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Gilmer County households compared
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.7%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| Gilmer County | West Virginia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.5% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.5% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 23.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Gilmer County
Where the Gilmer County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 30% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Gilmer County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Gilmer County loan.
Steps before you apply in Gilmer County
Quick steps for Gilmer County:
- Price the Gilmer County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in West Virginia.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Gilmer County residents
Consumer lenders serving Gilmer County are licensed by the state, not the county; in West Virginia that is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on West Virginia: West Virginia personal loans.
More guides for Gilmer County
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gilmer County a high-income county?
Its $47,981 median ranks 46th of 55 West Virginia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Gilmer County?
$750 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I live in a small Gilmer County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Glenville, Sand Fork.
Is the fit check different in Gilmer County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Gilmer 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.