HomeWest VirginiaWood County
Wood County, West Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Wood County, West Virginia had an estimated 82,757 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 84,293, across 366 square miles. County output reached $4.74 bn in 2024, 1,901 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 46 7(a) approvals worth $29.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Wood County
How many people live in Wood County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202483,407
- Households35,836
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$57,810
- Median age43.9
- Median gross rent$822 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$158,500
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over60,017
- Population under 1817,380
- Share under 1820.8 percent
- Population 65 and over18,026
- Share 65 and over21.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6448,001
- Civilian labor force38,217
- Unemployment rate5.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.9 percent
- Rank by population among West Virginia counties5th of 55
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included702nd of 3,222
Wood County is the 5th largest of 55 West Virginia counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.6 percent against 20.8 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Wood County
Is Wood County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202482,757
- Census 2020 base population84,293
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.82 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-190
- Births, 2024759
- Deaths, 2024999
- Natural change, 2024-240
- Net domestic migration, 20245
- Net international migration, 202445
- Total net migration, 202450
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024131
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2452nd of 3,144
The county has lost 1.82 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Wood County
Where are people moving to Wood County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,504
- People arriving, from those returns2,599
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,518
- Net household movement-14
- Adjusted gross income arriving$75.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-6.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$50,281
- Average income of a leaving household$53,745
- Largest single originWashington County (316 households)
- Largest single destinationWashington County (301 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 316 | 548 | $14.8 m |
| Jackson County | 73 | 129 | $3.4 m |
| Pleasants County | 56 | 94 | $2.1 m |
| Kanawha County | 46 | 65 | $2.1 m |
| Monongalia County | 38 | 70 | $2.9 m |
| Ritchie County | 37 | 61 | $1.7 m |
| Wirt County | 34 | 56 | $1.2 m |
| Franklin County | 27 | 35 | $1.3 m |
Households arriving report $3,464 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Washington County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Wood County
What is the Wood County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$4.74 bn
- County GDP, 2023$4.54 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.4 percent
- GDP change over five years28.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the West Virginia areas BEA publishes7th of 55
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes737th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$56,862
Output grew 4.4 percent in the latest year and 28.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Wood County
Employment by industry in Wood County
- Covered employment, annual average35,511
- Establishments reporting2,634
- Average annual pay$54,626
- Average weekly wage$1,051
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,313
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$58,085
- Retail trade, employment5,317
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,492
- Accommodation and food services, employment3,914
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,186
- Manufacturing, employment2,920
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$83,208
- Construction, employment1,605
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,452
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 7,313 | 503 | $58,085 |
| Retail trade | 5,317 | 364 | $35,492 |
| Accommodation and food services | 3,914 | 217 | $20,186 |
| Manufacturing | 2,920 | 72 | $83,208 |
| Construction | 1,605 | 192 | $62,107 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,452 | 164 | $47,549 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,259 | 73 | $56,325 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,011 | 183 | $35,839 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,313 jobs, 20.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Wood County
How many businesses are in Wood County?
- Establishments, all industries1,901
- Employment at those establishments29,785
- Annual payroll$1.36 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Wood County
Building permits in Wood County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024124
- Declared construction value permitted$24.8 m
- Single family units authorized91
- Multifamily units authorized33
- Multifamily share of units26.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$199,885
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.5
Single-family homes are 73.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Wood County
SBA loans in Wood County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded46
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$29.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$643,385
- Median 7(a) approval$342,700
- 10th percentile approval$45,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,823,150
- Largest single approval$4,190,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)620
- Jobs per approval13.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active10
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter32
- Franchise loans10
- Franchise share of approvals21.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (6)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (23)
- 504 approvals recorded1
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.6 m
- Average 504 approval$1,620,000
- Median 504 approval$1,620,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval25.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.4
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$31.2 m
The average approval of $643,385 sits well above the median of $342,700, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wood County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Wood County
Do SBA loans in Wood County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded10
- Paid in full9
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full9
- Status: Exempt from disclosure27
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 10 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wood County
SBA lending by place in Wood County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Parkersburg, approvals21
- Vienna, approvals9
- Washington, approvals6
- Mineralwells, approvals5
- Williamstown, approvals4
- Sumter, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg | 21 | $9,146,900 |
| Vienna | 9 | $4,249,600 |
| Washington | 6 | $4,646,300 |
| Mineralwells | 5 | $8,002,500 |
| Williamstown | 4 | $450,400 |
| Sumter | 1 | $3,100,000 |
Parkersburg accounts for 21 approvals against 9 in Vienna. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wood County
How large is Wood County?
- Land area366 sq mi
- Rank by land area among West Virginia counties31st of 55
- Width, east to west27.3 mi
- Height, north to south26.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land228
- Establishments per square mile5.19
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Wood County
Flood risk in Wood County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Wood County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 540213
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate80.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Wood County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Wood County (community 540213), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Wood County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 80.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Wood County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Wood County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202483,407
- Households35,836
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$57,810
- Median age43.9
Common questions
Wood County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Wood County, West Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 82,757 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 83,407, in 35,836 households, ranking 5th of 55 West Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Wood County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.82 percent since the 2020 census base of 84,293, to 82,757 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 759 births against 999 deaths, with net migration of 50. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Wood County?
$57,810. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,500, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $822 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Wood County?
1,901 establishments, employing 29,785 people with an annual payroll of $1.36 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Wood County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,313 jobs, 20.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 35,511 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,626, or $1,051 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Wood County?
46 7(a) approvals totaling $29.6 m since FY2020, across 10 lenders, with a median approval of $342,700, plus 1 504 approvals worth $1.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Wood County?
124 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $24.8 m. Multifamily was 26.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Wood County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Wood County come from?
The largest single origin is Washington County, with 316 households. Arriving households report an average income of $50,281 against $53,745 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Wood County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Wood County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Wood County
Cities and places in Wood.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Wood County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg | city | 29,240 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| Vienna | city | 10,518 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Blennerhassett | CDP | 3,282 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Williamstown | city | 2,980 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Mineralwells | CDP | 2,389 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Lubeck | CDP | 1,495 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Boaz | CDP | 1,400 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Washington | CDP | 1,139 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| North Hills | town | 926 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Waverly | CDP | 361 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kanawha | CDP | 192 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 46 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Wood County, the largest being Sumter (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.