1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Nicholas County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $54,639. 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
- Nicholas County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Nicholas County
- What Nicholas County households earn
- What it costs to live in Nicholas County
- Places inside Nicholas County
- Regional comparison for Nicholas County
- A Nicholas County household budget, worked through
- Nicholas County households compared
- Reading the Nicholas County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Nicholas County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
- More guides for Nicholas County
- Frequently asked questions
Nicholas County by the numbers
With an estimated 24,277 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Nicholas County ranks 24th of 55 in West Virginia for population. It covers 647 square miles of land, or about 38 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Nicholas County is not part of any metropolitan area. Summersville is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 3,373 people (14% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Nicholas County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Nicholas County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (8% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.9% in Nicholas County. About 79% drive to work alone and 25% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Nicholas County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.9% | +4.7 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.1% | +1.0 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 Nicholas County households earn
Nicholas County households have a median income of $54,639 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 29th of 55 in West Virginia.
| Yearly household income | Nicholas County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.3% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.5% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -1.3 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 15.4%, 1 point lower than the state's 16.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.483 here. A household earning below the $54,639 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Nicholas County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $686 in Nicholas County versus $872 statewide. By the Census definition, 32% of Nicholas County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $121,600, a typical Nicholas County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1981.
| Home costs | Nicholas County | West Virginia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $686/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,600 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.7% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Nicholas 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.
Places inside Nicholas County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 36% of Nicholas County residents live in one of the 8. Tioga has the highest median household income on the list ($86,056) and Richwood the lowest ($30,833), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Summersville ($395) and steepest in Richwood ($682). This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summersville | city | 3,373 | $56,571 | $395 | 2 mi |
| Richwood | city | 2,403 | $30,833 | $682 | 15 mi |
| Craigsville | CDP | 2,190 | $39,943 | $611 | 8 mi |
| Tioga | CDP | 577 | $86,056 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Nettie | CDP | 183 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Belva | CDP | 17 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Fenwick | CDP | 16 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Birch River | CDP | 7 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
Regional comparison for Nicholas County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 39 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Kanawha County leads the group on income ($60,943), Clay County trails ($42,318), and Nicholas County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas County | - | $54,639 | $686/mo | 82% |
| Clay County, WV | 19 mi | $42,318 | $651/mo | 76% |
| Webster County, WV | 23 mi | $43,839 | $709/mo | 77% |
| Fayette County, WV | 24 mi | $53,194 | $788/mo | 78% |
| Braxton County, WV | 28 mi | $50,331 | $606/mo | 77% |
| Greenbrier County, WV | 32 mi | $48,218 | $868/mo | 73% |
| Kanawha County, WV | 39 mi | $60,943 | $906/mo | 71% |
A Nicholas County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Nicholas County's medians:
- $4,553 a month: gross income for a household at the Nicholas County median
- Housing at the median rent of $686 uses 15%
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,135 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Nicholas County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Nicholas County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Nicholas County | All of West Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 17.2% |
Reading the Nicholas County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Nicholas County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 25% of Nicholas County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 21% of Nicholas County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 46.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Checklist for Nicholas County applicants
Steps that save money for Nicholas County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
Consumer lenders serving Nicholas County are licensed by the state, not the county; in West Virginia that is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: West Virginia guide.
More guides for Nicholas County
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Nicholas County earn?
The median is $54,639; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Nicholas County rent compare with West Virginia?
$686 locally versus $872 for the state, 21% below.
Which towns does the Nicholas County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Summersville, Richwood, Craigsville, Tioga, Nettie.
Can Nicholas County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every West Virginia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Nicholas County?
Start with the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.