Wheeling: Demographics & People
Wheeling is home to 26,350 people, in 12,614 households. Population shrank 1.2% from 26,670 (2022) to 26,350 (2024). Median age 45.4 years. (2.7y older than Ohio County; 3.2y older than West Virginia). Children under 18 are 18% of the population. Population is 89% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Black. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.12). 50% of households are family-led. County is losing 452 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs West Virginia avg 2.3).
- 50% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs West Virginia 44%).
- 78 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs West Virginia 70).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 1.2% from 26,670 (2022) to 26,350 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~26,034 (extrapolated at -0.6%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 25,618.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 30,591 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -1.2% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 26,670 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 26,350 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 26,350 people (vs West Virginia 6,988) |
| Population Estimate | 25,618 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 45.4y is 6.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 18% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 45.4 years (vs West Virginia 42.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 18.1% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 26,350 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 4,763 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 5,131.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 9,644.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 6,812 |
| Population under 18 | 4,763 |
| Median age | 45.4 years (vs West Virginia 42.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 26,350 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.12 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 23,838 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,179 |
| Asian residents | 92 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 409 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 12.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 93.4% |
| Asian population | 0.4% (vs West Virginia 60.0%) |
| Black population | 4.5% (vs West Virginia 2.9%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.4% (vs West Virginia 2.2%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 88.8% (at West Virginia median) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 17,570 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 8,077 |
| Share born in this state | 66.7% |
| Share born in another state | 33.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 30.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.5% |
| Naturalized citizens | 2.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 591 |
| From Europe | 255 |
| From Africa | 136 |
Households & Family Composition
12,614 households. Averaging 2.1 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 50% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 6,397 families, 25% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 5,162 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 6,397 |
| Married couples with children | 1,572 |
| Single-parent households | 248 |
| Average household size | 2.07 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.2% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 271 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 55 |
| Family households | 6,325 households (vs West Virginia 1,846) |
| Households that are families | 50.1% (vs West Virginia 55.6%) |
| Total households | 12,614 households (vs West Virginia 2,965) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 13.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 452 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 13.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 25,942 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 26,394 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -452 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 1,981 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.5% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,063 residents live in group quarters (4.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,063 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 54051 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 54 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 051 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Marshall |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 22.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 17.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 27.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 54051 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Marshall County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,212 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 54051 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Marshall County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 50.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 46.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 51.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 30,531 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 14 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 10 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 18.1% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 26,350, declining, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 26,350 people (vs West Virginia 6,988) |
| Town Summary · County | Marshall County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade