Paden City: Demographics & People
Census counts 2,415 people in Paden City, in 955 households. Population shrank 4.5% from 2,529 (2022) to 2,415 (2024). Median age 40.4 years. (4.9y younger than Wetzel County; 1.8y younger than West Virginia). Children under 18 are 25% of the population. Population is 99% White (non-Hispanic). The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.00). 65% of households are family-led. County is losing 265 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 22% smoke.
- 2.5 people per household (vs West Virginia avg 2.3).
- 35% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs West Virginia 44%).
- 75 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs West Virginia 70).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 4.5% from 2,529 (2022) to 2,415 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,307 (extrapolated at -2.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,168.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 8,313 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -4.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,529 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,415 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | declining |
| Population | 2,415 people (vs West Virginia 6,988) |
| Population Estimate | 2,168 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 40.4y is 1.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 25% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 40.4 years (vs West Virginia 42.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 24.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,415 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 594 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 461.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 921.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 439 |
| Population under 18 | 594 |
| Median age | 40.4 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 2,415 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.00 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 2,481 |
|---|---|
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 1 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 100.0% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 98.7% (vs West Virginia 88.8%) |
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 (6)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 2,047 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 366 |
| Share born in this state | 84.8% |
| Share born in another state | 15.2% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 15.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 1 |
| From Europe | 1 |
Households & Family Composition
955 households. Averaging 2.5 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 65% are family households — near the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 676 families, 22% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 606 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 676 |
| Married couples with children | 149 |
| Single-parent households | 56 |
| Average household size | 2.48 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 11.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 26 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 18 |
| Family households | 618 households (vs West Virginia 1,846) |
| Households that are families | 64.7% (vs West Virginia 55.6%) |
| Total households | 955 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. 4.2% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 265 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 4.2% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 7,190 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 7,455 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -265 |
| 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 | 267 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 9.7% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 54095 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 54 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 095 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Tyler |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 40.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 30.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 52.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 54095 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Tyler County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 312 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 54095 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Tyler County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 47.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 43.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 49.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 8,591 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 24.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,415, declining, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,415 people (vs West Virginia 6,988) |
| Town Summary · County | Tyler County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade