Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in West Virginia using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
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#55. Jefferson County
- Median household income: $82,551
--- 71.8% above state average, 27.0% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 40.8%
--- #155 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.8%
--- #2,978 highest among all counties nationwide
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#54. Berkeley County
- Median household income: $65,286
--- 35.9% above state average, 0.4% above national average
- Households earning over $100k: 26.8%
--- #709 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.7%
--- #2,580 highest among all counties nationwide
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#53. Putnam County
- Median household income: $63,954
--- 33.1% above state average, 1.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 29.2%
--- #534 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.3%
--- #2,502 highest among all counties nationwide
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#52. Morgan County
- Median household income: $57,116
--- 18.9% above state average, 12.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.2%
--- #1,575 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 5.5%
--- #1,995 highest among all counties nationwide
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#51. Pleasants County
- Median household income: $55,508
--- 15.6% above state average, 14.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.6%
--- #1,191 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.7%
--- #1,852 highest among all counties nationwide
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#50. Monongalia County
- Median household income: $54,198
--- 12.8% above state average, 16.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 28.4%
--- #587 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.1%
--- #1,715 highest among all counties nationwide
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#49. Taylor County
- Median household income: $52,958
--- 10.2% above state average, 18.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.4%
--- #1,376 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.1%
--- #1,587 highest among all counties nationwide
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#48. Marion County
- Median household income: $52,856
--- 10.0% above state average, 18.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.8%
--- #1,637 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.1%
--- #1,572 highest among all counties nationwide
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#47. Harrison County
- Median household income: $52,134
--- 8.5% above state average, 19.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 23.2%
--- #1,105 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.0%
--- #1,490 highest among all counties nationwide
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#46. Preston County
- Median household income: $51,992
--- 8.2% above state average, 20.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 21.8%
--- #1,311 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.0%
--- #1,466 highest among all counties nationwide
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#45. Mason County
- Median household income: $51,820
--- 7.9% above state average, 20.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.1%
--- #1,587 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.0%
--- #1,441 highest among all counties nationwide
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#44. Mineral County
- Median household income: $51,723
--- 7.7% above state average, 20.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.2%
--- #2,625 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #1,425 highest among all counties nationwide
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#43. Doddridge County
- Median household income: $51,300
--- 6.8% above state average, 21.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 27.9%
--- #631 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 7.6%
--- #1,363 highest among all counties nationwide
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#42. Jackson County
- Median household income: $49,115
--- 2.2% above state average, 24.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.0%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.1%
--- #1,113 highest among all counties nationwide
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#41. Wood County
- Median household income: $48,711
--- 1.4% above state average, 25.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.5%
--- #1,874 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.8%
--- #1,069 highest among all counties nationwide
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#40. Hampshire County
- Median household income: $48,528
--- 1.0% above state average, 25.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.4%
--- #2,447 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.9%
--- #1,051 highest among all counties nationwide
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#39. Marshall County
- Median household income: $48,179
--- 0.3% above state average, 25.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 19.9%
--- #1,623 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.8%
--- #1,020 highest among all counties nationwide
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#38. Brooke County
- Median household income: $48,168
--- 0.3% above state average, 25.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.4%
--- #2,591 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.5%
--- #1,017 highest among all counties nationwide
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#37. Hancock County
- Median household income: $48,140
--- 0.2% above state average, 25.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.8%
--- #2,545 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 10.9%
--- #1,012 highest among all counties nationwide
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#36. Ohio County
- Median household income: $48,056
--- 0.0% above state average, 26.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 22.5%
--- #1,196 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.8%
--- #1,008 highest among all counties nationwide
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#35. Tyler County
- Median household income: $47,598
--- 0.9% below state average, 26.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.1%
--- #2,306 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.6%
--- #966 highest among all counties nationwide
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#34. Tucker County
- Median household income: $47,527
--- 1.1% below state average, 26.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.2%
--- #2,740 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.7%
--- #959 highest among all counties nationwide
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#33. Kanawha County
- Median household income: $47,122
--- 1.9% below state average, 27.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 20.0%
--- #1,607 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.2%
--- #925 highest among all counties nationwide
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#32. Hardy County
- Median household income: $46,513
--- 3.2% below state average, 28.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.2%
--- #2,294 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 8.6%
--- #866 highest among all counties nationwide
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#31. Pendleton County
- Median household income: $46,358
--- 3.5% below state average, 28.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.7%
--- #2,899 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.2%
--- #851 highest among all counties nationwide
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#30. Wirt County
- Median household income: $45,315
--- 5.7% below state average, 30.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.6%
--- #2,802 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.5%
--- #761 highest among all counties nationwide
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#29. Boone County
- Median household income: $45,297
--- 5.7% below state average, 30.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.3%
--- #2,606 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.4%
--- #760 highest among all counties nationwide
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#28. Randolph County
- Median household income: $45,206
--- 5.9% below state average, 30.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.6%
--- #2,408 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.6%
--- #752 highest among all counties nationwide
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#27. Monroe County
- Median household income: $44,828
--- 6.7% below state average, 31.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.2%
--- #3,007 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.4%
--- #715 highest among all counties nationwide
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#26. Wetzel County
- Median household income: $44,539
--- 7.3% below state average, 31.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.8%
--- #2,680 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.1%
--- #698 highest among all counties nationwide
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#25. Ritchie County
- Median household income: $44,328
--- 7.7% below state average, 31.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.0%
--- #2,643 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.4%
--- #678 highest among all counties nationwide
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#24. Wyoming County
- Median household income: $44,095
--- 8.2% below state average, 32.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.6%
--- #2,699 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.6%
--- #659 highest among all counties nationwide
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#23. Lewis County
- Median household income: $43,894
--- 8.6% below state average, 32.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.9%
--- #2,170 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.8%
--- #641 highest among all counties nationwide
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#22. Braxton County
- Median household income: $43,819
--- 8.8% below state average, 32.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.7%
--- #2,694 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.5%
--- #633 highest among all counties nationwide
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#21. Fayette County
- Median household income: $43,722
--- 9.0% below state average, 32.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.3%
--- #2,829 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.2%
--- #626 highest among all counties nationwide
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#20. Wayne County
- Median household income: $43,710
--- 9.0% below state average, 32.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
--- #2,576 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.0%
--- #623 highest among all counties nationwide
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#19. Grant County
- Median household income: $43,313
--- 9.8% below state average, 33.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.2%
--- #2,949 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 12.5%
--- #591 highest among all counties nationwide
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#18. Raleigh County
- Median household income: $43,283
--- 9.9% below state average, 33.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.0%
--- #2,143 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.0%
--- #590 highest among all counties nationwide
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#17. Gilmer County
- Median household income: $42,883
--- 10.7% below state average, 34.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.1%
--- #3,015 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.1%
--- #566 highest among all counties nationwide
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#16. Lincoln County
- Median household income: $42,064
--- 12.4% below state average, 35.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.4%
--- #2,591 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.9%
--- #493 highest among all counties nationwide
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#15. Cabell County
- Median household income: $41,472
--- 13.7% below state average, 36.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.8%
--- #2,179 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.7%
--- #446 highest among all counties nationwide
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#14. Upshur County
- Median household income: $40,802
--- 15.1% below state average, 37.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.7%
--- #2,553 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.4%
--- #403 highest among all counties nationwide
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#13. Mercer County
- Median household income: $40,716
--- 15.2% below state average, 37.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.8%
--- #2,976 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.4%
--- #397 highest among all counties nationwide
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#12. Nicholas County
- Median household income: $40,318
--- 16.1% below state average, 38.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.4%
--- #2,825 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.7%
--- #370 highest among all counties nationwide
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#11. Greenbrier County
- Median household income: $39,807
--- 17.1% below state average, 38.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.8%
--- #2,783 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.1%
--- #341 highest among all counties nationwide
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#10. Barbour County
- Median household income: $38,906
--- 19.0% below state average, 40.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.9%
--- #2,527 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 15.4%
--- #295 highest among all counties nationwide
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#9. Roane County
- Median household income: $38,895
--- 19.0% below state average, 40.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.6%
--- #2,912 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.1%
--- #294 highest among all counties nationwide
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#8. Calhoun County
- Median household income: $38,668
--- 19.5% below state average, 40.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.4%
--- #2,720 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.0%
--- #290 highest among all counties nationwide
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#7. Summers County
- Median household income: $37,769
--- 21.4% below state average, 41.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.0%
--- #2,865 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 11.9%
--- #245 highest among all counties nationwide
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#6. Pocahontas County
- Median household income: $37,642
--- 21.6% below state average, 42.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.8%
--- #2,891 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.2%
--- #240 highest among all counties nationwide
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#5. Logan County
- Median household income: $36,250
--- 24.5% below state average, 44.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.9%
--- #2,347 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.6%
--- #183 highest among all counties nationwide
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#4. Mingo County
- Median household income: $35,454
--- 26.2% below state average, 45.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 7.9%
--- #3,094 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 25.6%
--- #159 highest among all counties nationwide
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#3. Clay County
- Median household income: $35,154
--- 26.8% below state average, 45.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.2%
--- #3,009 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.0%
--- #149 highest among all counties nationwide
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#2. Webster County
- Median household income: $33,358
--- 30.6% below state average, 48.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.4%
--- #3,049 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.5%
--- #103 highest among all counties nationwide
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#1. McDowell County
- Median household income: $26,072
--- 45.7% below state average, 59.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 5.9%
--- #3,131 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 27.7%
--- #13 highest among all counties nationwide
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