1st Advantage MortgageAbout 83% of Wetzel County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $56,836. 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
- Wetzel County by the numbers
- How much Wetzel County households make
- What it costs to live in Wetzel County
- Work, industries and travel time in Wetzel County
- Wetzel County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Wetzel County
- Budget math at the Wetzel County median
- Before borrowing in Wetzel County
- Wetzel County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Licensing and complaints for Wetzel County
- Four steps for Wetzel County borrowers
- More guides for Wetzel County
- Frequently asked questions
Wetzel County by the numbers
With an estimated 14,078 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wetzel County ranks 38th of 55 in West Virginia for population. It covers 358 square miles of land, or about 39 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. New Martinsville is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 5,133 people (36% of the county total).
How much Wetzel County households make
Wetzel County households have a median income of $56,836 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 25th of 55 in West Virginia.
| Household income | Wetzel County | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.1% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -0.7 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 16.0%, 1 point lower than the state's 16.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.442 here. None of these numbers decides a Wetzel County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Wetzel County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $688 in Wetzel County versus $872 statewide. By the Census definition, 37% of Wetzel County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $107,900, a typical Wetzel County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 83%. Median construction year: 1962.
| Measure | Wetzel County | West Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $688/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $107,900 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.5% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Wetzel County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Wetzel County residents work in education and health care and 13% in transportation, warehousing and utilities. Compared with West Virginia, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (13% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 84% drive to work alone and 25% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Wetzel County | Compared with West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -6.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 13.0% | +7.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -2.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | 0.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Wetzel County next to its neighbors
Tyler County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Monroe County, is 26 miles off. Marion County leads the group on income ($67,370), Doddridge County trails ($57,401), and Wetzel County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wetzel County | - | $56,836 | $688/mo | 83% |
| Tyler County, WV | 16 mi | $63,693 | $748/mo | 84% |
| Marshall County, WV | 18 mi | $59,169 | $837/mo | 78% |
| Marion County, WV | 22 mi | $67,370 | $932/mo | 77% |
| Doddridge County, WV | 23 mi | $57,401 | $866/mo | 89% |
| Harrison County, WV | 26 mi | $60,377 | $879/mo | 74% |
| Monroe County, OH | 26 mi | $60,134 | $672/mo | 80% |
Places inside Wetzel County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Wetzel County residents live in one of the 7. Live in one of these Wetzel County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Martinsville | city | 5,133 | $60,946 | $688 | 13 mi |
| Hundred | town | 371 | $45,938 | $365 | 11 mi |
| Pine Grove | town | 367 | $43,333 | $337 | 4 mi |
| Reader | CDP | 193 | $63,942 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Jacksonburg | CDP | 181 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Smithfield | town | 113 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Littleton | CDP | 89 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Wetzel County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Wetzel County's medians:
- $56,836 a year is $4,736 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $688, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 43% cap, $2,037 total minus rent leaves $1,349
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Wetzel County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wetzel County borrowers.
- Long drives. With 25% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Wetzel County budgets.
- 15% 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 45.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Wetzel County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 3.7%, against 6.0% for West Virginia.
| Indicator | Wetzel County | All of West Virginia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.1% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.7% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.7% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 15.6% |
Licensing and complaints for Wetzel 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. See the West Virginia state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Wetzel County borrowers
Quick steps for Wetzel County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A West Virginia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Wetzel County
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wetzel County household make?
About $56,836 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% below the West Virginia median.
How much is rent in Wetzel County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $688 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Wetzel County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of Wetzel County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Wetzel County?
By population: New Martinsville, Hundred, Pine Grove, Reader, Jacksonburg. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Wetzel 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.