26261 ZIP Code — Richwood, WV

Nicholas County, West Virginia

ZIP code 26261 is located in Richwood, West Virginia, within Nicholas County. It covers approximately 165.25 square miles and serves a population of 3,088 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 304/681.

About ZIP code 26261

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $59,600. Owner-occupancy is high at 79%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $31,788. Poverty affects 29% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 29% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 53% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is service, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. An above-average commute of 38 minutes suggests many residents work outside the immediate area.

College attainment at 11% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of diabetes (18%), smoking (26%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 28%.

Overall, ZIP code 26261 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, high homeownership, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

3,088

population

165.25

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

26261 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 26261

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 26261. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Richwood	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

26202 Fenwick (7.8 mi) 26681 Nettie (8.9 mi) 26205 Craigsville (10.9 mi) 24966 Renick (12 mi) 26676 Leivasy (12.1 mi) 26662 Canvas (12.6 mi) 25981 Quinwood (13.1 mi) 26660 Calvin (13.4 mi) 26208 Camden On Gauley (13.5 mi) 26679 Mount Nebo (14.5 mi) 24946 Hillsboro (15.3 mi) 25984 Rupert (15.3 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	3,088
Population density	19 / sq mi
State FIPS	54
County FIPS	067

Geography
Land area	165.25 sq mi
Water area	0.73 sq mi
Latitude	38.1841
Longitude	-80.5338
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	304/681

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	71.1%	59.2%	51.6%
$50k – $100k	25.1%	28.3%	29.4%
$100k – $200k	3.1%	11.8%	15.8%
Over $200k	0.7%	0.7%	3.1%

Demographics & statistics

3,088

Population

People per sq mi

46.7

Median age

$31,788

Median household income

$22,089

Per capita income

$59,600

Median home value

$616

Median monthly rent

78.6%

Home ownership

29.1%

Poverty rate

18.6%

Unemployment

1,478

Housing units

11.2%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

131

5–9

158

10–14

15–19

20–24

153

25–34

186

192

35–44

233

166

45–54

201

55–59

134

60–64

162

243

65–74

294

75–84

115

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	560	18.1%
18 and over	2,528	81.9%
65 and over	845	27.4%
Median age	46.7 years

Race & ethnicity

White 99.1%

Two or more races 0.5%

Asian 0.2%

Black or African American 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	3,061	99.1%
Two or more races	16	0.5%
Asian	7	0.2%
Black or African American	4	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	71.1%	59.2%	51.6%
$50k – $100k	25.1%	28.3%	29.4%
$100k – $200k	3.1%	11.8%	15.8%
Over $200k	0.7%	0.7%	3.1%

Under $10k 8.1%

$10k–$15k 8.4%

$15k–$25k 12.5%

$25k–$35k 26.4%

$35k–$50k 12.5%

$50k–$75k 12.6%

$75k–$100k 12.9%

$100k–$150k 3.9%

$150k–$200k 1.7%

$200k+ 1.1%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	8.1%
$10k–$15k	8.4%
$15k–$25k	12.5%
$25k–$35k	26.4%
$35k–$50k	12.5%
$50k–$75k	12.6%
$75k–$100k	12.9%
$100k–$150k	3.9%
$150k–$200k	1.7%
$200k+	1.1%
Median income	$31,788

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 37.0%

$50k–$100k 29.6%

$100k–$150k 19.3%

$150k–$200k 4.7%

$200k–$300k 4.2%

$300k–$500k 1.9%

$500k–$1M 3.3%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$59,600
Median rent / month	$616
Owner occupied	78.6%
Renter occupied	21.4%
Vacant	30.7%
Single-family detached	82.1%
Large apartment buildings	0.9%
Mobile homes	10.5%
Median rooms	6.0
Avg household size (owned)	2.56

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	2.1%
2010–2019	3.2%
2000–2009	3.5%
1990–1999	6.6%
1980–1989	7.8%
1970–1979	12.6%
1960–1969	17.3%
1950–1959	10.9%
1940–1949	7.8%
1939 or earlier	28.1%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.0%
1 bedroom	6.5%
2 bedrooms	19.0%
3 bedrooms	61.1%
4 bedrooms	8.1%
5+ bedrooms	5.3%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	13.9%
1 vehicle	50.6%
2 vehicles	24.1%
3 or more	11.4%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	66.5%
Electricity	22.3%
Propane / LP gas	4.8%
Wood	6.0%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	484	40.2%
Cohabiting couple	49	4.1%
Male householder, no spouse	179	14.9%
Female householder, no spouse	491	40.8%
Households with children under 18	229	19.0%
Households with seniors (65+)	548	45.6%
Average household size	2.50

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	26.2%	13.9%
Married	47.7%	37.2%
Separated	1.1%	2.3%
Widowed	5.6%	18.7%
Divorced	19.4%	28.0%

Education

Less than 9th grade 5.1%

Some HS, no diploma 5.4%

HS graduate 47.2%

Some college, no degree 28.0%

Associate's degree 3.1%

Bachelor's degree 10.2%

Graduate / professional 1.0%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	89.5%
Bachelor's or higher	11.2%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	43	8.9%
Kindergarten	42	8.7%
Elementary school	336	69.3%
High school	48	9.9%
College / grad school	16	3.3%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 25.5%

Retail trade 22.9%

Manufacturing 13.3%

Arts, food & hospitality 8.7%

Construction 7.2%

Finance & real estate 6.5%

Public administration 5.2%

Professional & management 3.3%

Other services 3.3%

Agriculture & mining 2.8%

Information 1.4%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	26.7%
Service	27.2%
Sales & office	22.0%
Natural resources & construction	5.5%
Production & transportation	18.6%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	90.1%
Government	8.6%
Self-employed	1.3%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	76.0%
Carpool	6.9%
Public transit	9.9%
Walk	1.5%
Work from home	2.1%
Other means	3.6%
Avg commute (minutes)	37.7

Poverty

All people 29.1%

Under 18 years 32.1%

18 and over 28.4%

Married-couple families 13.8%

Female-led households 15.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	53.0%
Retirement income	28.3%
Supplemental Security	6.2%
Cash public assistance	3.5%
Food stamps / SNAP	29.2%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	39.7%
High blood pressure	50.3%
High cholesterol	42.4%
Diabetes	18.0%
Heart disease	12.0%
Stroke	5.4%
Asthma	11.8%
Arthritis	43.3%
Kidney disease	4.6%
Pulmonary disease	15.7%
Cancer	8.7%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	26.3%
Binge drinking	10.1%
No physical activity	36.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	39.9%
Depression	27.3%
Fair or poor health	27.4%
Poor mental health	18.2%
Poor physical health	18.4%
No health insurance	11.8%
Visited doctor (checkup)	82.9%
Visited dentist	53.2%
Cholesterol screening	90.3%
Teeth loss	25.7%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	230	9.1%

Disability	%
Any disability	28.2%
Under 18	3.2%
18–64 years	29.9%
65 and over	42.5%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	42.6%
Public insurance	72.2%
No insurance	6.9%
Uninsured under 19	3.4%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	2,978	96.4%
Spanish	3	0.1%
Other Indo-European	0	0.0%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	3	0.1%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	3,081	99.8%
Born in same state	3,062	99.2%
Born in different state	2,441	79.0%
Foreign born	19	0.6%
Naturalized citizen	7	0.2%
Not a US citizen	6	85.7%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	523	16.9%
French	398	12.9%
Arab	281	9.1%

Ancestry	Count	%
English	228	7.4%
German	5	0.2%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	39.0%
Internet access	83.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 26261

What city is ZIP code 26261 in?

ZIP code 26261 is primarily assigned to Richwood, West Virginia.

What county is ZIP code 26261 in?

ZIP code 26261 falls within Nicholas County, West Virginia.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 26261?

29% of residents in ZIP code 26261 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 26261 have a large retiree population?

53% of households in ZIP code 26261 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

Does ZIP code 26261 have an older population?

27% of residents in ZIP code 26261 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 26261?

11% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What timezone is ZIP code 26261 in?

ZIP code 26261 observes the EST timezone.