Lester

Population: 492
Median household income: $30,000
Median home value: $81,500

Lester, a community in Raleigh County, West Virginia, has 492 residents. Its median household income of $30,000 runs below the Raleigh County figure of $52,055.

From 2019 to 2023, Lester's population grew 8.4% from 454 to 492, while its median home value rose 11.0% from $73,400 to $81,500.

Households average 2.76 people. The median gross rent is $834.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 492
Median age: 50.4 yrs
Median household income: $30,000
Median home value: $81,500
Median gross rent: $834
Housing units: 201
Homeownership rate: 75.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 12.0%
Unemployment rate: 4.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

454492

Median household income

$31,172$30,000

Median home value

$73,400$81,500

Median gross rent

$861$834

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	454	$31,172	$73,400	$861
2020	590	$26,202	$71,100	$805
2021	639	$26,629	$75,200	$784
2022	440	$28,125	$87,700	$820
2023	492	$30,000	$81,500	$834

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 54.7%

5 to 1726.0%

18 to 248.1%

25 to 344.9%

35 to 442.4%

45 to 547.5%

55 to 6424.8%

65 to 7413.2%

75 and over8.3%

	Count	Share
Under 5	23	4.7%
5 to 17	128	26.0%
18 to 24	40	8.1%
25 to 34	24	4.9%
35 to 44	12	2.4%
45 to 54	37	7.5%
55 to 64	122	24.8%
65 to 74	65	13.2%
75 and over	41	8.3%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	394	80.1%
Black or African American	36	7.3%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	60	12.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2	0.4%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma22.3%

High school graduate54.5%

Some college or associate's11.3%

Bachelor's degree7.3%

Graduate or professional degree4.7%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	67	22.3%
High school graduate	164	54.5%
Some college or associate's	34	11.3%
Bachelor's degree	22	7.3%
Graduate or professional degree	14	4.7%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 48 min

Drove alone85.0%

Carpooled8.0%

Public transit0.0%

Walked0.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home7.1%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	96	85.0%
Carpooled	9	8.0%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	0	0.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	8	7.1%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	5	4.8%
15 to 29 min	51	48.6%
30 to 44 min	3	2.9%
45 to 59 min	0	0.0%
60+ min	46	43.8%

Households

Average household size: 2.76
Poverty rate: 50.8% (250 of 492)

	Count	Share
Family households	106	59.6%
Nonfamily households	72	40.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1981

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	178	88.6%
Vacant	23	11.4%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	135	75.8%
Renter-occupied	43	24.2%

1-unit, detached63.2%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units0.0%

5 to 19 units0.0%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other36.8%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	127	63.2%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	0	0.0%
5 to 19 units	0	0.0%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	74	36.8%

Geography

Place GEOID: 5446468
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 0.5 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 37.7320, -81.3027