1st Advantage MortgageAbout 84% of Tyler County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $63,693. 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
- Getting oriented in Tyler County
- How much Tyler County households make
- The Tyler County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Tyler County
- How Tyler County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Tyler County
- People and households in Tyler County
- Before borrowing in Tyler County
- Budget math at the Tyler County median
- A Tyler County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Tyler County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Tyler County
Tyler County is home to about 8,064 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 46th most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. Spread over 256 square miles, that works out to roughly 31.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Tyler County is not part of any metropolitan area. Paden City is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 2,415 people (30% of the county total). Because Tyler County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How much Tyler County households make
At $63,693, the typical Tyler County household income is 3% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 9th of 55.
| Household income | Tyler County | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.8% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | +1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | 0.0 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. 20.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 16.7%). A household earning below the $63,693 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Tyler County job picture
The biggest employer of Tyler County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 34% of workers, followed by transportation, warehousing and utilities (11%). Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward education and health care (34% against 28%). Averaged over the five survey years, 7.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 26% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.7% of the total (8.0% statewide).
| Sector | Tyler County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.2% | +6.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.2% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.3% | +4.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | -0.2 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Tyler County
Renters in Tyler County pay a median of $748 a month, 14% below the West Virginia figure of $872. By the Census definition, 47% of Tyler County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,300, about 1.9 times the median household income. 84% of Tyler County households own their home and 16% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1968.
| Measure | Tyler County | West Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $748/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,300 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.5% | 13.6% | n/a |
Because most Tyler 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 Tyler County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Wetzel County at 16 miles out to Marshall County at 29. Income ranges from $50,582 in Ritchie County to $60,932 in Pleasants County; none of these neighbors top Tyler County's median. Some neighbors are in Ohio. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Tyler County resident follows West Virginia rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler County | - | $63,693 | $748/mo | 84% |
| Wetzel County, WV | 16 mi | $56,836 | $688/mo | 83% |
| Doddridge County, WV | 16 mi | $57,401 | $866/mo | 89% |
| Pleasants County, WV | 17 mi | $60,932 | $715/mo | 81% |
| Monroe County, OH | 21 mi | $60,134 | $672/mo | 80% |
| Ritchie County, WV | 22 mi | $50,582 | $579/mo | 84% |
| Marshall County, WV | 29 mi | $59,169 | $837/mo | 78% |
Towns and communities in Tyler County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Tyler County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 4,743 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Middlebourne has the highest median household income on the list ($69,375) and Sistersville the lowest ($45,500), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paden City | city | 2,415 | $66,101 | $719 | 10 mi |
| Sistersville | city | 1,409 | $45,500 | $812 | 9 mi |
| Middlebourne | town | 796 | $69,375 | $721 | 3 mi |
| Friendly | town | 123 | n/a | $497 | 10 mi |
People and households in Tyler County
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 7.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Tyler County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.9% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.7% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.0% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 16.1% |
Before borrowing in Tyler County
Based on the Tyler County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 26% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 12% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Tyler County's median age is 48.8. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Tyler County loan.
Budget math at the Tyler County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Tyler County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Tyler County: $5,308
- Median rent: $748, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,375: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $748, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A Tyler County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the West Virginia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Tyler County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Tyler County borrowers answers to the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: West Virginia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Tyler County earn?
The median is $63,693; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Tyler County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $748 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Tyler County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 84% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Tyler County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Paden City, Sistersville, Middlebourne, Friendly.
Are Tyler County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.