Wheeling: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Wheeling center on a median $48,590 (1.2× below Ohio County median $57,094; 1.2× below West Virginia median $59,608), with homes at a median value of $146,500. The surrounding county supports 10,545 jobs (avg $65,055).
- $71,877 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs West Virginia $66,575).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $48,590 — below the West Virginia median ($53,972). Poverty rate 20.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 46% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.0× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 19.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 45.9% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 20.5% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 1.9% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $13,800 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $991,905 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $71,877 (vs West Virginia $66,575) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $55,264 |
| Median Household Income | $48,590 (vs West Virginia $53,972) |
| Poverty Rate | 20.5% |
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 | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $48,590 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.6% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 7% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 19.80 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 6.9% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 10,545 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $686,007,865 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $65,055 |
| 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 | 3.6% (vs West Virginia 3.4%) |
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 | 19 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 68,623 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 3,611.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Animal Totals, Field Crops, Other, Cattle, Fruit & Tree Nut Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 488 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 9,539 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 506,712 |
| 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 | 4 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 11 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 8 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Florists | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 5 |
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 | 14 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 16 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 10 |
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 (15)
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 (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Duggers Market |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 35 |
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 | WHEELING AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 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 | $194,755,815 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,366.44 (vs West Virginia $8,671) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 30,591 people (vs West Virginia 6,988) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 5 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 78.3% |
| Pct Public Transit | 4.0% |
| Pct Walked | 6.9% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 45.4 years (vs West Virginia 42.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 41.2% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12