West Virginia · GEOID 54009

Brooke County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 21,805 · 10,691 housing units

Median household income

$54,316

State $60,534

Median home value

$141,500

State $168,419

Median gross rent

$645

State $879

Homeownership rate

74.6%

State 74.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

37.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

12.5%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.1%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

1.6%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

9.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.61

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Brooke County	West Virginia
Population	21,805	1,778,373
Population density (per sq. mi.)	244.46	—
Median household income	$54,316	$60,534
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$80,600	—
Households	9,675	—
Average household size	2.16 people	—
Owner-occupied	74.6%	74.9%
Renter-occupied	25.4%	25.1%
Race	92.8% White · 1.5% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Brooke County compared with West Virginia.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

23.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 24.1%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	20.9%	$56,087	$1,402	$177,755
1 earner	35.0%	$53,682	$1,342	$168,803
2 earners	37.7%	$107,839	$2,696	$370,394
3+ earners	6.4%	$133,125	$3,328	$464,517

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

9,675

Average size: 2.16 people

Households with children

1,646

17.0% of households

Per-capita income

$34,184

Poverty rate: 12.7%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

74.6% owner-occupied vs. state average 74.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 74.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 11.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

74.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,966.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $141,500.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $645.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 1,016 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 7.9% · For rent 3.9% · Seasonal 11.5% · Other 69.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

19.2% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 80.8% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.1%

117 units of 10,691 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

6.6%

704 units of 10,691 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$43,453

100% MHI$54,316

120% MHI$65,179

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Brooke County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$49,150	$56,150	$70,150
100% AMI	$56,420	$64,480	$80,600
120% AMI	$67,700	$77,400	$96,700

HUD FMR Area: Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

37.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (11.6% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

12.5% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Brooke County.

Covered employment

4,346

Across 19 sectors

Establishments

612

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$46,823

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	950	$76,960	$255,452	+$113,952	$1,924
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	916	$33,203	$92,573	−$48,927	$830
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	683	$21,156	$47,730	−$93,770	$529
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	432	$52,647	$164,950	+$23,450	$1,316
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	264	$40,626	$120,204	−$21,296	$1,016
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	154	$19,219	$40,520	−$100,980	$480
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	145	$45,576	$138,630	−$2,870	$1,139
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	134	$23,745	$57,367	−$84,133	$594
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	125	$78,427	$260,912	+$119,412	$1,961
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	125	$65,901	$214,286	+$72,786	$1,648
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	102	$59,027	$188,699	+$47,199	$1,476
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	77	$48,015	$147,709	+$6,209	$1,200
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	73	$54,685	$172,537	+$31,037	$1,367
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	51	$39,733	$116,880	−$24,620	$993
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	31	$61,147	$196,590	+$55,090	$1,529
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	30	$43,233	$129,908	−$11,592	$1,081
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	27	$45,682	$139,024	−$2,476	$1,142
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	22	$35,164	$99,873	−$41,627	$879
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	5	$64,580	$209,369	+$67,869	$1,615

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	806	$80,686	$269,321	+$127,821	$2,017
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	486	$101,426	$346,522	+$205,022	$2,536
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	432	$52,647	$164,950	+$23,450	$1,316
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	365	$30,385	$82,084	−$59,416	$760
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	341	$40,576	$120,018	−$21,482	$1,014
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	236	$28,989	$76,887	−$64,613	$725
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	144	$35,517	$101,187	−$40,313	$888
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	139	$16,039	$28,683	−$112,817	$401
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	122	$62,033	$199,888	+$58,388	$1,551
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	115	$43,402	$130,537	−$10,963	$1,085
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	102	$59,027	$188,699	+$47,199	$1,476
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	78	$28,536	$75,201	−$66,299	$713
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	78	$73,392	$242,170	+$100,670	$1,835
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	78	$45,023	$136,571	−$4,929	$1,126
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	77	$37,141	$107,232	−$34,268	$929
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	76	$25,049	$62,221	−$79,279	$626
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	74	$56,983	$181,091	+$39,591	$1,425
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	68	$55,127	$174,182	+$32,682	$1,378
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	53	$48,616	$149,946	+$8,446	$1,215
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	51	$39,733	$116,880	−$24,620	$993
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	49	$62,907	$203,142	+$61,642	$1,573
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	49	$43,981	$132,693	−$8,807	$1,100
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	47	$52,521	$164,481	+$22,981	$1,313
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	39	$8,903	$2,120	−$139,380	$223
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	34	$12,986	$17,319	−$124,181	$325
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	31	$61,147	$196,590	+$55,090	$1,529
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	30	$43,233	$129,908	−$11,592	$1,081
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	28	$55,073	$173,981	+$32,481	$1,377
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	27	$61,937	$199,531	+$58,031	$1,548
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	27	$86,375	$290,498	+$148,998	$2,159
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	19	$91,935	$311,194	+$169,694	$2,298
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	19	$19,274	$40,725	−$100,775	$482
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	17	$71,307	$234,409	+$92,909	$1,783
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	15	$48,692	$150,229	+$8,729	$1,217
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	14	$13,169	$18,000	−$123,500	$329
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	12	$84,187	$282,353	+$140,853	$2,105
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	9	$40,702	$120,487	−$21,013	$1,018
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	5	$69,005	$225,841	+$84,341	$1,725
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	5	$64,580	$209,369	+$67,869	$1,615
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	1	$48,225	$148,490	+$6,990	$1,206

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	740	(300)	(29%)	$12.89	$26,810	$68,776	$670
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,030	(280)	(21%)	$12.99	$27,020	$69,558	$676
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	70	(20)	(22%)	$13.45	$27,980	$73,132	$700
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	940	(260)	(22%)	$14.71	$30,590	$82,847	$765
Tellers SOC 43-3071	140	(130)	(48%)	$16.87	$35,090	$99,597	$877
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	660	(430)	(39%)	$17.64	$36,700	$105,590	$918
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	450	(230)	(34%)	$17.65	$36,710	$105,628	$918
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	540	(720)	(57%)	$18.79	$39,080	$114,450	$977
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	500	(340)	(40%)	$19.06	$39,640	$116,534	$991
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	110	30	38%	$22.51	$46,810	$143,223	$1,170
Paramedics SOC 29-2043	40	—	—	$22.96	$47,760	$146,759	$1,194
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	480	(320)	(40%)	$23.54	$48,950	$151,189	$1,224
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	300	(30)	(9%)	$23.76	$49,420	$152,939	$1,236
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	730	110	18%	$26.35	$54,810	$173,002	$1,370
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	160	10	7%	$28.05	$58,340	$186,142	$1,459
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	270	50	23%	$28.58	$59,450	$190,274	$1,486
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	100	(30)	(23%)	$30.31	$63,050	$203,674	$1,576
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	390	150	63%	—	$65,250	$211,863	$1,631
Electricians SOC 47-2111	260	(40)	(13%)	$33.21	$69,080	$226,120	$1,727
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,190	(170)	(13%)	$37.46	$77,910	$258,988	$1,948

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 54009 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.