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Welch, WV

Full City Profile · West Virginia · McDowell County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
3,492 Population 458/sq mi density
$36,188 Median Income $11,111 per capita
$56,500 Home Value $45,876 Zillow
53°F Avg Temperature 305 sunny days/yr
4,176 Violent Crime/100K 8,874 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.0 / 5.0
$36,188 median income, 1.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$56,500 home value, /mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
4,176 violent crimes/100K (999% above avg)
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.3% bachelor's degree or higher

Welch, WV

At a Glance

Median Income
$36,188
52% below
$11,111 per capita
Home Value
$56,500
80% below
Zillow: $45,876
Violent Crime
4,176/100K
999% above
8,874/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
6.3%
81% below
74.7% high school+
Unemployment
1.0%
72% below
21.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
47.2%
47% above
27.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
53°F
305 sunny days/yr

How Welch Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Welch's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
48%
Home Value
20%
Poverty
169%
Bachelor's
19%
Unemployment
28%
Crime
1099%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Welch a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.6 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Welch residents earn a median household income of $36,188 , which is 52% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $11,111. The unemployment rate stands at 1.0% (72% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 21.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 382 business establishments, including 14 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Welch is $56,500 , 80% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $45,876. The cost of living index is 89.5 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1953.

Safety & Crime

Welch reports 4,176 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 999% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 8,874/100K.

Education

6.3% of adults in Welch hold a bachelor's degree or higher (81% below the national average). 74.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 3.7/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Welch has an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 33°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 44.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.

Data Overview

People

Population3,492
Median Age39.8 yrs
Density458/mi²
Male / Female77% / 23%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.9%

Economy

B
Median Income$36,188
Per Capita$11,111
Unemployment1.0%
Poverty21.0%
County GDP$728M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,078

Housing

A+
Home Value$56,500
Rent
Ownership75.0%
Zillow$45,876
Housing Units1,139
Rent Burden51.0%

Crime

F
Violent4,176/100K
Property8,874/100K

Health

Obesity47.2%
Diabetes18.8%
Smoking27.0%
Heart Disease9.0%
Premature Death24,029/100K

Climate

Avg Temp53°F
Sunny Days305/yr
Rain44.6 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation1,762 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+6.3%
High School+74.7%
Graduate+2.5%
School Score3.7/10

Community

2024 VoteR 79% / D 19%
Commute16 min
Broadband81.2%
Internet Speed126 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries4

Did You Know?

Welch was founded in 1893.
The median home in Welch was built in 1953.
The nearest airport is West Virginia International Yeager (65 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.477 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
37.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 126 Mbps.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.