St. Albans: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in St. Albans is $53,972 (1.1× below Kanawha County median $60,943; 1.1× below West Virginia median $60,603), with homes at a median value of $140,800. The surrounding county supports 97,845 jobs (avg $61,997).
- $70,301 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $53,972 — below the West Virginia median ($60,603). Poverty rate 14.1% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 43% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.6× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 19.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 42.7% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 14.1% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.8% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $80,450 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $5,655,705 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $70,301 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $66,989 |
| Median Household Income | $53,972 (vs West Virginia $60,603) |
| Poverty Rate | 14.1% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $53,972 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.8% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 13% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 20.80 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 13.1% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 97,845 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $6,066,064,085 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $61,997 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 688,670 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% (vs West Virginia 6.2%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 52 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 516 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 9.90 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Animal Totals, Field Crops, Other, Fruit & Tree Nut Totals, Cattle |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 4,483 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 74,108 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 3,996,901 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 27 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 75 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 60 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 17 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 140 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 180 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 26 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 21 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Go Mart 79 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 180 |
Sources: USDA SNAP — county FIPS aggregate
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | HUNTINGTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $3,333,168,314 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 18,441.28 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 180,745 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 74.9% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 5.1% |
| Pct Walked | 13.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 45.2 years (vs West Virginia 42.9y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 47.4% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 4 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12