Kanawha County, WV

This county of 170,791 residents needs 1,186 more housing units over the next five years. Kanawha County is part of the Regional Intergovernmental Council.

Housing snapshot

Population
170,791 (2026)
Households
75,275
Median household income
$68,932 (2026)
Typical home value
$152,905
Owner-occupied
60%
Five-year housing need
1,186 units

Comparison to other West Virginia counties

Kanawha County: $68,932 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$34K >$90K
Kanawha County: 1.35 jobs to household ratio
<0.31 >1.41
Kanawha County: Permits since 2021 represent 0.8% of housing
<0% >5.1%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $152,905, typical home prices in Kanawha County, WV are close to the West Virginia average of $141,012. Kanawha County, WV's median household income of $68,932 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Kanawha County, WV has a population of roughly 176,537, though it has been declining at 0.8% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Kanawha County, WV has roughly 75,275 households, though population has been declining at 0.8% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Kanawha County, WV, detached single-family accounts for 70% of the housing stock. Homeownership is the norm in Kanawha County, WV, with 60% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Kanawha County, WV needs 1,186 new units over the next 5 years.

1,186
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
1,186
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.6 per 1,000 units.
1,186
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
237
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
1.3%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.3%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?