State rank#1 of 55
Smallest county176,537 residentsKanawha County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 54039
Kanawha County, West Virginia
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population176,537
Household income$60,943
Unemployment3.8%
Life expectancy71 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Kanawha County has 176,537 residents and ranks #1 by population among West Virginia county equivalents. Median household income is $60,943. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within West Virginia
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Kanawha County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Kanawha County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $147,300 median home value and $906/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $60,943, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Kanawha County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, mental health access, and primary care access. College attainment is 29.7% and life expectancy is 71 years.
Potential advantages
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.7%, rank #5 of 55 available West Virginia counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 314 residents, rank #5 of 55 available West Virginia counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 770 residents, rank #5 of 54 available West Virginia counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $906/mo, rank #47 of 55; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 71 years, rank #40 of 55; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $147,300, rank #27 of 55; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within West Virginia
Rank and range use only counties in West Virginia with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$60,943
$60,943; above the state county median of $55,832.
State rank #14 of 55 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$147,300
$147,300; below the state county median of $148,800.
State rank #27 of 55 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$906/mo
$906/mo; above the state county median of $771/mo.
State rank #47 of 55 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.8%
3.8%; below the state county median of 4.4%.
State rank #10 of 55 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
29.7%
29.7%; above the state county median of 18.5%.
State rank #5 of 55 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
71 years
71 years; below the state county median of 73.1 years.
State rank #40 of 55 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
22.4%
22.4%; below the state county median of 24.4%.
State rank #15 of 55 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.5%
7.5%; below the state county median of 7.6%.
State rank #25 of 55 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 770 residents
1 per 770 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,370 residents.
State rank #5 of 54 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 314 residents
1 per 314 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,014 residents.
State rank #5 of 55 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Kanawha County FAQ
Is Kanawha County a good place to live?
Kanawha County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, mental health access, and primary care access. College attainment is 29.7% and life expectancy is 71 years.
What should I know before moving to Kanawha County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $147,300 median home value and $906/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $60,943, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Kanawha County?
Kanawha County has 176,537 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Kanawha County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 54039; the parent state FIPS is 54.
What is the median household income in Kanawha County?
The ACS median household income is $60,943.
How much does housing cost in Kanawha County?
Housing benchmarks are $147,300 median home value and $906/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $60,943, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Kanawha County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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