West Virginia · 26 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in West Virginia, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +35.9%
- Growing
- 5
- Shrinking
- 21
The 20 fastest-growing
Charles Town grew fastest, from 6,526 in July 2020 to 8,869 in July 2024, +35.9%. It is the 16th largest of the 26 places ranked. 5 places grew and 21 shrank or held flat; the median change was -3.5%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Charles Town, +2,343 people. At the other end, Oak Hill changed by -5.2%. Growth is measured between the July 2020 and July 2024 estimates for places with 5,000 or more residents in 2024, so fast growth from a small base can outrank larger absolute gains.
- 01Charles Town+35.9%
- 02Ranson+10.2%
- 03Bridgeport+1.7%
- 04Martinsburg+1.7%
- 05Morgantown+1.4%
- 06Fairmont-1.9%
- 07Hurricane-2.0%
- 08Vienna-2.2%
- 09Buckhannon-2.5%
- 10Parkersburg-2.8%
- 11Wheeling-3.2%
- 12New Martinsville-3.2%
- 13Elkins-3.3%
- 14Nitro-3.5%
- 15Huntington-3.9%
- 16Beckley-4.1%
- 17Clarksburg-4.1%
- 18Weirton-4.2%
- 19Charleston-4.4%
- 20Moundsville-4.5%
Dots: the 20 places in the chart. Orange pin: Charles Town, ranked first.
All 26 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Town | 8,869 | +35.9% | Jefferson County |
| 2 | Ranson | 6,035 | +10.2% | Jefferson County |
| 3 | Bridgeport | 9,397 | +1.7% | Harrison County |
| 4 | Martinsburg | 19,047 | +1.7% | Berkeley County |
| 5 | Morgantown | 30,490 | +1.4% | Monongalia County |
| 6 | Fairmont | 18,063 | -1.9% | Marion County |
| 7 | Hurricane | 6,813 | -2.0% | Putnam County |
| 8 | Vienna | 10,406 | -2.2% | Wood County |
| 9 | Buckhannon | 5,049 | -2.5% | Upshur County |
| 10 | Parkersburg | 28,834 | -2.8% | Wood County |
| 11 | Wheeling | 26,060 | -3.2% | Ohio County +1 |
| 12 | New Martinsville | 5,038 | -3.2% | Wetzel County |
| 13 | Elkins | 6,698 | -3.3% | Randolph County |
| 14 | Nitro | 6,366 | -3.5% | Kanawha County +1 |
| 15 | Huntington | 44,942 | -3.9% | Cabell County +1 |
| 16 | Beckley | 16,515 | -4.1% | Raleigh County |
| 17 | Clarksburg | 15,262 | -4.1% | Harrison County |
| 18 | Weirton | 18,317 | -4.2% | Hancock County +1 |
| 19 | Charleston | 46,482 | -4.4% | Kanawha County |
| 20 | Moundsville | 7,703 | -4.5% | Marshall County |
| 21 | Princeton | 5,595 | -4.5% | Mercer County |
| 22 | Dunbar | 7,111 | -4.6% | Kanawha County |
| 23 | Bluefield | 9,157 | -4.7% | Mercer County |
| 24 | South Charleston | 13,177 | -4.8% | Kanawha County |
| 25 | St. Albans | 10,301 | -4.8% | Kanawha County |
| 26 | Oak Hill | 7,732 | -5.2% | Fayette County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in West Virginia?
Charles Town, up 35.9% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 8,869 residents.
Which West Virginia city added the most people?
Charles Town, which gained 2,343 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many West Virginia cities are shrinking?
21 of 26 places of 5,000+ had the same or fewer residents in July 2024 than in July 2020.
Why use places of 5,000 or more?
Small towns can swing by double-digit percentages from a few new homes, and Census estimates for them carry more uncertainty. The 5,000 floor keeps the ranking to places where a percentage means something.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.