The Town Files

McDowell County, West Virginia

17,943 people. The median home is worth $50,000 (typical West Virginia town: $125,000) and the median household earns $31,559.

Towns in McDowell County

Towns in McDowell County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Welch3,590$57,300$32,96940.6

People and housing

McDowell CountyTypical West Virginia town
Median home value$50,000$125,000
Median rent$643$811
Median household income$31,559$52,093
Median age43.743.6
Bachelor's degree or higher6.8%18.6%
Below the poverty line34.2%18.6%

Jobs and pay

3,934 jobs in 2024, average pay $56,048 a year.

Largest industries in McDowell CountyHealth care & social assistan…467 jobs · $37,014Retail399 jobs · $25,990Administrative & support156 jobs · $29,339Hotels & restaurants143 jobs · $22,697Transportation & warehousing121 jobs · $66,395Finance & insurance88 jobs · $44,902
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in McDowell County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 6.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 456 storm events in McDowell County from 1996 to 2026, with 8 deaths.

Storm events in McDowell County by type since 1996Hail60Heat11Flood32Drought19High Wind10Heavy Rain10Heavy Snow46Flash Flood37Strong Wind15Winter Weather29
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

McDowell County has been included in 27 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3639: Severe Winter Storm
February 26, 2025Severe StormDR-4861: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
November 28, 2022FloodDR-4678: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3450: Covid-19
March 31, 2015Severe StormDR-4210: Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).