1st Advantage MortgageAbout 88% of Wirt County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $49,867. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Wirt County at a glance
- The Wirt County job picture
- Income in Wirt County compared with West Virginia
- Renting and owning in Wirt County
- Wirt County towns compared
- Wirt County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Wirt County median
- More Wirt County figures
- Before borrowing in Wirt County
- Licensing and complaints for Wirt County
- Four steps for Wirt County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wirt County at a glance
Wirt County is home to about 5,053 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 55th most populous of 55 county-level areas in West Virginia. Spread over 233 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.7 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Elizabeth, with about 564 residents, or 11% of the county. With so few households sampled, Wirt County estimates can move a lot between releases.
The Wirt County job picture
Education and health care employs 29% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 18%. Retail trade stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Wirt County. About 75% drive to work alone and 29% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wirt County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 17.5% | +5.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | +0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.7% | -2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.6% | -0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Wirt County compared with West Virginia
The median household income in Wirt County is $49,867; statewide it is $59,608, so Wirt County runs 16% below West Virginia as a whole. Only 39 West Virginia counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Wirt County | Gap to West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.7% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.5% | +7.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.8% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.0% | -3.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 19% of Wirt County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 16.8%, the same as the state's 16.7%. For a borrower in Wirt County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Wirt County
A typical Wirt County rental runs $558 a month including utilities, which is 36% below West Virginia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 64% of renter households here. With a median value of $115,800, a typical Wirt County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 88%.
| Measure | Wirt County | West Virginia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $558/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $115,800 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 88% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 64% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.9% | 13.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 15% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Wirt 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Wirt County towns compared
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Wirt County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 1,059 people, so roughly 79% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | town | 564 | $22,353 | $552 | 3 mi |
| Newark | CDP | 495 | $47,941 | n/a | 7 mi |
Wirt County and the counties next door
Wood County is closest, 15 miles from center to center; the sixth, Pleasants County, is 27 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Wirt County; Pleasants County is highest at $60,932 and Calhoun County lowest at $43,980.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wirt County | - | $49,867 | $558/mo | 88% |
| Wood County, WV | 15 mi | $57,810 | $822/mo | 75% |
| Calhoun County, WV | 19 mi | $43,980 | $473/mo | 87% |
| Roane County, WV | 19 mi | $45,778 | $614/mo | 79% |
| Ritchie County, WV | 20 mi | $50,582 | $579/mo | 84% |
| Jackson County, WV | 20 mi | $58,845 | $716/mo | 79% |
| Pleasants County, WV | 27 mi | $60,932 | $715/mo | 81% |
Budget math at the Wirt County median
Here is the Wirt County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,156 before taxes
- Less median rent of $558, which is 13% of it
- With a 35% ceiling, about $896 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,312 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Wirt County figures
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Wirt County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.5% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 40.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 19.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.9% |
Before borrowing in Wirt County
Where the Wirt County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 29% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Wirt County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 26% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 64% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Wirt 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 Wirt County borrowers
Quick steps for Wirt County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wirt County earn?
The median is $49,867; 19% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Wirt County rent compare with West Virginia?
$558 locally versus $872 for the state, 36% below.
I live in a small Wirt County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Elizabeth, Newark.
Will a Wirt County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming West Virginia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Wirt County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In West Virginia it is the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions.