What are the fastest-growing counties in West Virginia?
Berkeley County is the fastest-growing county in West Virginia: its population grew 2.60% a year from 2020 to 2025, to 139,522 residents (Census PEP Vintage 2025). Jefferson County (1.77%) and Morgan County (1.08%) follow. West Virginia as a whole grew -0.29% a year to 1,766,147 residents.
Data as of 2026-09-23. Population, growth and migration: PEP Vintage 2025 · 2020–2025. Income migration: IRS SOI 2022–2023 (2-yr lag).
Top 10 counties in West Virginia by population growth, 2020 to 2025
| Rank | County | Population | Growth (% per year) | Net domestic migration | Net international migration | IRS net AGI migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley County | 139,522 | 2.60% | +15,280 | +413 | +$89.7M |
| 2 | Jefferson County | 63,102 | 1.77% | +4,892 | +477 | +$48.6M |
| 3 | Morgan County | 18,027 | 1.08% | +1,508 | -6 | +$13.8M |
| 4 | Hampshire County | 24,105 | 0.87% | +1,567 | -21 | +$18.0M |
| 5 | Monongalia County | 107,991 | 0.39% | -211 | +1,487 | -$46.4M |
| 6 | Monroe County | 12,491 | 0.17% | +450 | +15 | +$2.2M |
| 7 | Hardy County | 14,337 | 0.13% | +186 | +145 | +$5.6M |
| 8 | Grant County | 11,041 | 0.09% | +323 | +23 | +$2.4M |
| 9 | Upshur County | 23,758 | -0.05% | +286 | +59 | -$2.7M |
| 10 | Barbour County | 15,414 | -0.06% | +362 | +33 | +$2.6M |
Where are people moving in West Virginia?
Berkeley County gained the most people from elsewhere in the United States: net domestic migration of +15,280 from 2020 to 2025 (Census PEP Vintage 2025). The table ranks every West Virginia place with 10,000 or more residents by that figure; the IRS column shows net adjusted gross income migration for 2022 to 2023.
| Rank | County | Population | Growth (% per year) | Net domestic migration | Net international migration | IRS net AGI migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley County | 139,522 | 2.60% | +15,280 | +413 | +$89.7M |
| 2 | Jefferson County | 63,102 | 1.77% | +4,892 | +477 | +$48.6M |
| 3 | Hampshire County | 24,105 | 0.87% | +1,567 | -21 | +$18.0M |
| 4 | Morgan County | 18,027 | 1.08% | +1,508 | -6 | +$13.8M |
| 5 | Mineral County | 26,792 | -0.07% | +640 | -33 | +$0.5M |
| 6 | Preston County | 34,004 | -0.12% | +610 | +75 | +$11.5M |
| 7 | Marion County | 55,584 | -0.23% | +588 | +84 | -$3.1M |
| 8 | Monroe County | 12,491 | 0.17% | +450 | +15 | +$2.2M |
| 9 | Barbour County | 15,414 | -0.06% | +362 | +33 | +$2.6M |
| 10 | Grant County | 11,041 | 0.09% | +323 | +23 | +$2.4M |
Go past the headline numbers
The interactive Demographics map layer and the full report for a single place are part of paid plans.
Get the Demographics Report for Berkeley CountyFrequently asked questions
- What are the fastest-growing counties in West Virginia?
- By population growth from 2020 to 2025, the fastest are Berkeley County (2.60% a year), Jefferson County (1.77% a year), Morgan County (1.08% a year), Hampshire County (0.87% a year) and Monongalia County (0.39% a year) (Census PEP Vintage 2025). Only places with 10,000 or more residents are ranked.
- Where are people moving in West Virginia?
- By net domestic migration from 2020 to 2025, the largest gains are Berkeley County (+15,280), Jefferson County (+4,892) and Hampshire County (+1,567) (Census PEP Vintage 2025).
- How fast is West Virginia growing overall?
- West Virginia grew -0.29% a year from 2020 to 2025, to 1,766,147 residents, with net migration of +22,451 people (Census PEP Vintage 2025).
- Where does this West Virginia data come from, and how current is it?
- Population, growth and migration come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP Vintage 2025 · 2020–2025). Income migration comes from IRS Statistics of Income (IRS SOI 2022–2023 (2-yr lag)). Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are not ranked (12 of 55 in West Virginia). Data last loaded 2026-09-23.
Data as of 2026-09-23: sources and periods
- Population, growth and migration
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program: PEP Vintage 2025 · 2020–2025. census.gov/programs-surveys/popest
- Income migration (net AGI)
- Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income migration data: IRS SOI 2022–2023 (2-yr lag). irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-migration-data
How to read the table
- Population is the Census July 1 estimate of the latest vintage.
- Growth is the compound annual rate over 2020 to 2025.
- Net domestic and international migration are cumulative people over 2020 to 2025.
- IRS net AGI migration is adjusted gross income that moved in, less what moved out, for 2022 to 2023. A plus sign means a net inflow.
- Places with fewer than 10,000 residents are left out of the rankings.