Fayette County, WV

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Population

44,602

1.31% decline

Median Age

43.3


Median Household Income

$39,297

3.83% growth

Poverty Rate

20%


Number of Employees

16,147

1.31% decline

Median Property Value

$86,400

6.27% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Fayette County, WV had a population of 44.6k people with a median age of 43.3 and a median household income of $39,297. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Fayette County, WV declined from 45,192 to 44,602, a -1.31% decrease and its median household income grew from $37,846 to $39,297, a 3.83% increase.

The population of Fayette County, WV is 92.5% White Alone, 5.15% Black or African American Alone, and 1.08% Hispanic or Latino. N/A% of the people in Fayette County, WV speak a non-English language, and 99.6% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Fayette County, WV are West Virginia University Institute of Technology (147 degrees awarded in 2016) and Fayette Institute of Technology (24 degrees).

The median property value in Fayette County, WV is $86,400, and the homeownership rate is 78.5%. Most people in Fayette County, WV commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 27.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Fayette County, WV is 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Autumn sunrise scenery from the Bear Rocks area of the Dolly Sods Wilderness near Davis, West Virginia (USA). HDR composite from multiple exposures.

Photo by Nicolas Raymond

United StatesWest VirginiaBeckley, WV

Economy

The economy of Fayette County, WV employs 16.1k people. The largest industries in Fayette County, WV are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,913 people), Retail Trade (2,213 people), and Educational Services (1,518 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($62,909), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($61,358), and Construction ($41,504).

Median household income in Fayette County, WV is $39,297. Males in Fayette County, WV have an average income that is 1.4 times higher than the average income of females, which is $39,552. The income inequality in Fayette County, WV (measured using the Gini index) is 0.444, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$39,297

2017 value

± $2,432

3.83%

1 Year Growth

± 7.47%

Households in Fayette County, WV have a median annual income of $39,297, which is less than the median annual income of $60,336 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $37,846 in 2016, which represents a 3.83% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Fayette County, WV compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.

$55,526

Average Male Salary

± $2,063

$39,552

Average Female Salary

± $1,541

In 2017, full-time male employees in West Virginia made 1.4 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in West Virginia by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $63,277 ± $23,510

  2. American Indian

    $44,513 ± $30,224

  3. White

    $42,144 ± $1,238

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of West Virginia workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.42 times more than American Indian workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in West Virginia by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Fayette County, WV is from West Virginia.

0.444

2017 Wage GINI

0.444

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in West Virginia was 0.444 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.108% decline from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even.

The 2017 the GINI for West Virginia was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in West Virginia in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in West Virginia across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 201

  2. Census Tract 211

  3. Census Tract 209

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Fayette County, WV was Census Tract 201 with a value of $46,520, followed by Census Tract 211 and Census Tract 209, with respective values of $43,990 and $43,194.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Fayette County, WV colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 55 - 64

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

20% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Fayette County, WV (8.56k out of 42.8k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 55 - 64, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 35 - 44.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    8,037 ± 626

  2. Black

    394 ± 155

  3. Hispanic

    109 ± 125

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Fayette County, WV is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

16.1k

2017 Value

± 915

-1.31%

1 Year decline

± 7.79%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Fayette County, WV declined at a rate of -1.31%, from 16.4k employees to 16.1k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Fayette County, WV, are Sales & Related Occupations (2,300 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,748 people), and Construction & Extraction Occupations (1,443 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Fayette County, WV.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Fayette County, WV, by number of employees, are Sales & Related Occupations (2,300 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,748 people), and Construction & Extraction Occupations (1,443 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Fayette County, WV has an unusually high number of residents working as Construction & Extraction Occupations (1.8 times higher than expected), Healthcare Support Occupations (1.7 times), and Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (1.61 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Fayette County, WV, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($66,335), Management Occupations ($54,814), and Computer, Engineering, & Science Occupations ($54,464).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

16.1k

2017 Value

± 915

-1.31%

1 Year decline

± 7.79%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Fayette County, WV declined at a rate of -1.31%, from 16.4k employees to 16.1k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Fayette County, WV, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,913 people), Retail Trade (2,213 people), and Educational Services (1,518 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Fayette County, WV, though some of these residents may live in Fayette County, WV and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Fayette County, WV, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,913 people), Retail Trade (2,213 people), and Educational Services (1,518 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Fayette County, WV has an unusually high number of Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction (12.3 times higher than expected), Utilities (1.54 times), and Public Administration (1.51 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Fayette County, WV, by median earnings, are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($62,909), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($61,358), and Construction ($41,504).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from West Virginia to other states, or from other states to West Virginia.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Coal-n.e.c.

    $17.4B

  2. Coal

    $7.3B

  3. Pharmaceuticals

    $6.62B

In 2015, the top outbound West Virginia product (by dollars) was Coal-n.e.c. with $17.4B, followed by Coal ($7.3B) and Pharmaceuticals ($6.62B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound West Virginia products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for West Virginia state.

$68B

2015 Value

$86.9B

Projected 2045 Value

27.7% growth

In 2015, total outbound West Virginia trade was $68B. This is expected to increase 27.7% to $86.9B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound West Virginia trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from West Virginia to other states, or from other states to West Virginia.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. Pennsylvania

    $10.5B

  2. Ohio

    $6.95B

  3. Virginia

    $6.94B

In 2015, the top outbound West Virginia domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Pennsylvania with $10.5B, followed by Ohio with $6.95B and Virginia and $6.94B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that West Virginia shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

90.5% of the population of Fayette County, WV has health coverage, with 36.8% on employee plans, 25.6% on Medicaid, 15.6% on Medicare, 10.3% on non-group plans, and 2.29% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Fayette County, WV was $9,462 in 2014. This is a 5.5% increase from the previous year ($8,969).

Primary care physicians in Fayette County, WV see 2045 patients per year on average, which represents a 4.23% increase from the previous year (1962 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2111 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 2607 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, McDowell County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (19.7%). Additionally, McDowell County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (44.6%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,045 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Fayette County, WV see an average of 2,045 patients per year. This represents a 4.23% increase from the previous year (1,962 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Fayette County, WV in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for West Virginia.

$9,462

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$3,917

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$6,557

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,268

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in West Virginia (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.5%, from $8,969 to $9,462.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

9.47%

Uninsured

36.8%

Employer Coverage

25.6%

Medicaid

15.6%

Medicare

10.3%

Non-Group

2.29%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Fayette County, WV declined by 17.7% from 11.5% to 9.47%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Fayette County, WV changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. McDowell County

    19.7% prevalence

  2. Logan County

    19.1% prevalence

  3. Brooke County

    18.2% prevalence

McDowell County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in West Virginia, at 19.7%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in West Virginia by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Fayette County, WV is home to a population of 44.6k people, from which 99.6% are citizens. As of 2017, 0.863% of Fayette County, WV residents were born outside of the country (385 people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Fayette County, WV is composed of 41.3k White Alone residents (92.5%), 2.3k Black or African American Alone residents (5.15%), 482 Hispanic or Latino residents (1.08%), 350 Two or More Races residents (0.785%), 141 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.316%), 56 Asian Alone residents (0.126%), 21 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.0471%), and 0 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0%).

The most common foreign languages spoken in Fayette County, WV are N/A.

Age

Age by Nativity

43

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.3

37

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 7.1

In 2017, the median age of all people in Fayette County, WV was 43.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 43, were generally older than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 37. But people in Fayette County, WV are getting getting younger. In 2016, the average age of all Fayette County, WV residents was 43.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

0.863%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

385 people

0.688%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

311 people

As of 2017, 0.863% of Fayette County, WV residents (385 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Fayette County, WV was 0.688%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Fayette County, WV compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for West Virginia.

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    2,603 ± 1,252 people

  2. India

    2,547 ± 1,238 people

  3. China

    2,428 ± 1,209 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of West Virginia was Mexico, the natal country of 2,603 West Virginia residents, followed by India with 2,547 and China with 2,428.

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Citizenship

99.6%

2017 Citizenship

99.6%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 99.6% of Fayette County, WV residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.1%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Fayette County, WV was 99.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Fayette County, WV compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    41.3k ± 30

  2. Black or African American Alone

    2.3k ± 107

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    482 ± 76.6

In 2017, there were 18 times more White Alone residents (41.3k people) in Fayette County, WV than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.3k Black or African American Alone and 482 Hispanic or Latino residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Fayette County, WV as a share of the total population.

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Non-English Speakers

Most Common Languages

  1. N/A

    N/A speakers (N/A%)

  2. N/A

    N/A speakers (N/A%)

  3. N/A

    N/A speakers (N/A%)

N/A% of Fayette County, WV citizens are speakers of a non-English language, which is approximately the same as the national average of 21.8%. In N/A, the most common non-English language spoken in Fayette County, WV was N/A. N/A% of the overall population of Fayette County, WV are native N/A speakers. N/A% speak N/A and N/A% speak N/A, the next two most common languages.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    1,798 ± 245

  2. Gulf War (1990s)

    398 ± 142

  3. Gulf War (2001-)

    375 ± 159

Fayette County, WV has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 4.52 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2016, universities in Fayette County, WV awarded 171 degrees. The student population of Fayette County, WV is skewed towards men, with 779 male students and 617 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Fayette County, WV are White (128 and 80.5%), followed by Black or African American (16 and 10.1%), Hispanic or Latino (6 and 3.77%), and Asian (3 and 1.89%).

The largest universities in Fayette County, WV by number of degrees awarded are West Virginia University Institute of Technology (147 and 86%) and Fayette Institute of Technology (24 and 14%).

The most popular majors in Fayette County, WV are General Studies (34 and 19.9%), Mechanical Engineering (17 and 9.94%), and Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (14 and 8.19%).

The median tuition costs in Fayette County, WV are $N/A for private four year colleges, and $6,648 and $16,728 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. General Studies

    34 degrees awarded

  2. Mechanical Engineering

    17 degrees awarded

  3. General Civil Engineering

    12 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Fayette County, WV was General Studies with 34 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Fayette County, WV according to their major.

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Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. West Virginia University Institute of Technology

    147 degrees awarded

  2. Fayette Institute of Technology

    24 degrees awarded

$6,648

Median In-State Public

$N/A

Median Private

In 2016, the Fayette County, WV institution with the largest number of graduating students was West Virginia University Institute of Technology with 147 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

112

Degrees Awarded to Men

59

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2016, 112 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Fayette County, WV, which is 1.9 times more than the 59 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Fayette County, WV by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    128 degrees awarded

  2. Black or African American

    16 degrees awarded

  3. Hispanic or Latino

    6 degrees awarded

In 2016 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Fayette County, WV were to White students. These 128 degrees mean that there were 8 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 16 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Fayette County, WV was $86,400 in 2017, which is 0.397 times smaller than the national average of $217,600. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $81,300 to $86,400, a 6.27% increase. The homeownership rate in Fayette County, WV is 78.5%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Fayette County, WV have an average commute time of 27.7 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Fayette County, WV is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Income

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$39,297

Median Household Income

± $2,432

17.7k

Number of Households

± 875

In 2017, the median household income of the 17.7k households in Fayette County, WV grew to $39,297 from the previous year's value of $37,846.

The following chart displays the households in Fayette County, WV distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $50k - $60k range.

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Housing

Property Value

$86,400

2017 Median

± $3,890

$81,300

2016 Median

± $3,534

In 2017, the median property value in Fayette County, WV grew to to $86,400 from the previous year's value of $81,300.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Fayette County, WV compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Fayette County, WV the largest share of households have a property value in the $100k - $125k range.

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Property Taxes

< $800

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Fayette County, WV distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Fayette County, WV the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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Rent vs Own

78.5%

2017 Homeownership

77.7%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 78.5% of the housing units in Fayette County, WV were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 77.7%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Fayette County, WV compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Fayette County, WV distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Fayette County, WV have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

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Commute Time

27.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Fayette County, WV have a longer commute time (27.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 3.71% of the workforce in Fayette County, WV have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Fayette County, WV compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    81.4%

  2. Carpooled

    9.41%

  3. Other

    3.94%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Fayette County, WV was Drove Alone (81.4%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.41%) and those who Other (3.94%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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