County profile · West Virginia
Kanawha County, WV market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Kanawha County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 172,381
- −4.3% since 2020
- Households
- 76,459
- Median household income
- $60,943
- +30.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $147,300
- Jobs located here
- 104,812
- Highest market score
- 66
- Landscaping and lawn care, #321 of 1,493 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Kanawha County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Kanawha County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 172,381 people live in Kanawha County, in 76,459 households. Population estimates put the population change in Kanawha County from 2020 to 2025 at −4.3%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Kanawha County is $60,943 a year, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 30.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Kanawha County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Kanawha County are for landscaping and lawn care companies (66); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (64); and pest control companies (62). Kanawha County ranks #321 of 1,493 scored counties for landscaping and lawn care companies.
Kanawha County is part of the Charleston metro area. For its number of households, Kanawha County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for oil change and quick-lube shops (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (55% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Kanawha County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Kanawha County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and lawn care | 66 | #321 of 1,493 | 27 | 3.5 | $3.8M | 130 | 30 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 64 | #367 of 1,771 | 45 | 5.9 | $2.3M | 136 | 62 |
| Pest control | 62 | #190 of 699 | 7 | 0.9 | $14.7M | 144 | 5 |
| House cleaning | 62 | #192 of 847 | 11 | 1.4 | $9.4M | 146 | 27 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 57 | #290 of 887 | 17 | 2.2 | Index only | 161 | 4 |
| Pet stores | 57 | #364 of 974 | 12 | 1.6 | $5.1M | 112 | 4 |
| Veterinarians | 57 | #553 of 1,485 | 20 | 2.6 | $3M | 112 | 16 |
| Pet businesses | 55 | #852 of 2,200 | 58 | 7.6 | $1M | 119 | 37 |
| Grocery stores | 54 | #866 of 2,070 | 38 | 5.0 | $11.4M | 122 | 25 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 53 | #736 of 1,707 | 39 | 5.1 | $5.1M | 108 | 46 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #872 of 2,176 | 106 | 13.9 | Index only | 185 | 33 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 52 | #670 of 1,461 | 17 | 2.2 | $3.6M | 140 | 17 |
| Child care and preschools | 52 | #764 of 1,611 | 28 | 3.7 | $1M | 103 | 31 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,161 of 2,402 | 141 | 18.4 | $3.1M | 90 | 33 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 50 | #993 of 2,063 | 58 | 7.6 | $4.4M | 120 | 24 |
| Dry cleaners | 49 | #269 of 507 | 6 | 0.8 | $21.8M | 139 | 6 |
| Electricians | 48 | #630 of 1,160 | 16 | 2.1 | $12.5M | 104 | 41 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 47 | #437 of 777 | 9 | 1.2 | $5.1M | 126 | 17 |
| Home repair trades | 47 | #1,174 of 2,057 | 83 | 10.9 | $2.4M | 99 | 98 |
| Real estate | 46 | #1,268 of 2,229 | 145 | 19.0 | Index only | 170 | 81 |
| Convenience stores | 46 | #1,274 of 2,261 | 85 | 11.1 | $5.1M | 64 | 8 |
| Property management | 45 | #530 of 910 | 14 | 1.8 | Index only | 137 | 31 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 44 | #1,141 of 1,889 | 59 | 7.7 | $4.4M | 105 | 28 |
| Roofing and gutters | 43 | #739 of 1,177 | 28 | 3.7 | $7.1M | 84 | 11 |
| Chiropractors | 42 | #946 of 1,490 | 30 | 3.9 | $2.6M | 107 | 18 |
| Funeral homes | 40 | #973 of 1,472 | 27 | 3.5 | $440K | 65 | 16 |
| Nail salons | 37 | #1,004 of 1,328 | 39 | 5.1 | $1.6M | 95 | 11 |
| Hair salons | 37 | #1,780 of 2,339 | 154 | 20.1 | $401K | 93 | 26 |
| Gyms | 35 | #1,379 of 1,792 | 47 | 6.1 | $982K | 75 | 17 |
| Gas stations | 34 | #1,824 of 2,358 | 116 | 15.2 | $1.6M | 68 | 72 |
| Barbershops | 32 | #1,077 of 1,356 | 52 | 6.8 | $1.2M | 63 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 32 | #1,483 of 1,769 | 80 | 10.5 | $773K | 88 | 11 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 31 | #1,665 of 2,087 | 106 | 13.9 | $1.2M | 97 | 51 |
| Insurance agencies | 31 | #1,768 of 2,272 | 133 | 17.4 | $1.2M | 96 | 83 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 31 | #1,812 of 2,210 | 142 | 18.6 | $921K | 105 | 57 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 30 | #2,034 of 2,405 | 403 | 52.7 | $639K | 96 | 136 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 29 | #1,161 of 1,334 | 39 | 5.1 | $1.2M | 59 | 9 |
| Tire shops | 28 | #1,271 of 1,530 | 30 | 3.9 | $1.9M | 77 | 14 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 28 | #1,847 of 2,088 | 95 | 12.4 | $486K | 73 | 26 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 27 | #2,118 of 2,405 | 735 | 96.1 | $350K | 94 | 347 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 27 | #2,194 of 2,385 | 330 | 43.2 | $187K | 88 | 52 |
| Physical therapy | 26 | #1,258 of 1,422 | 35 | 4.6 | $2.2M | 92 | 36 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 24 | #302 of 325 | 6 | 0.8 | $12.8M | 52 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 24 | #1,202 of 1,327 | 31 | 4.1 | $1.9M | 60 | 17 |
| Pizza | 20 | #1,998 of 2,090 | 78 | 10.2 | $3.3M | 65 | 183 |
| Auto repair shops | 20 | #2,251 of 2,378 | 187 | 24.5 | $308K | 69 | 75 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 17 | #2,100 of 2,222 | 128 | 16.7 | $2M | 66 | 183 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 16 | #1,239 of 1,302 | 42 | 5.5 | $1.8M | 59 | 16 |
| Auto repair and car care | 16 | #2,338 of 2,401 | 330 | 43.2 | $174K | 65 | 114 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 14 | #1,609 of 1,656 | 80 | 10.5 | $963K | 54 | 138 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 14 | #2,358 of 2,394 | 640 | 83.7 | $120K | 79 | 282 |
| Home inspectors | 13 | #406 of 415 | 8 | 1.0 | Index only | 51 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 13 | #1,412 of 1,451 | 44 | 5.8 | $1.3M | 52 | 15 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 13 | #1,864 of 1,886 | 119 | 15.6 | $647K | 66 | 69 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 9 | #475 of 479 | 13 | 1.7 | $4.4M | 32 | 8 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.4 | $43.6M | 348 | Under 3 |
Household spending in Kanawha County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $57.5M | $752 | 79 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $187.4M | $2,451 | 94 |
| Food away from home | $257.4M | $3,366 | 83 |
| Groceries | $431.8M | $5,647 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $61.8M | $808 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $28.9M | $379 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $46.1M | $604 | 61 |
| Medical and dental services | $77M | $1,007 | 78 |
| Pets | $60.7M | $794 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $130.8M | $1,710 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $160.3M | $2,097 | 107 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $199.5M | $2,609 | 86 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $102.9M | $1,346 | 95 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.1B | $13,977 | 84 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Kanawha County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 172,381−4.3% since 2020
- Households
- 76,459
- Median age
- 43.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.6
- Land area
- 902 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 196
- Median household income
- $60,943+30.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $84,041
- Median home value
- $147,300
- Jobs located here
- 104,812
- Daytime population
- 206,412Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Kanawha County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Kanawha County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in West Virginia 8
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- Boone County, WV21,026 people
- Lincoln County, WV19,902 people
- Roane County, WV13,786 people
- Clay County, WV7,835 people
- Jackson County, WV27,705 people
- Fayette County, WV39,519 people
- Cabell County, WV92,739 people
Questions
How fast is Kanawha County, WV growing?
Population estimates put Kanawha County at 172,381 people in 2025, down 4.3% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 76,459 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 30.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Kanawha County, WV spend?
Households in Kanawha County spend about $1.1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $431.8M on groceries and $257.4M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Kanawha County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Kanawha County, WV?
Of the business types scored in Kanawha County, landscaping and lawn care companies (66); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (64); and pest control companies (62) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For landscaping and lawn care companies, that ranks #321 of 1,493 scored counties.
How does Kanawha County, WV compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Kanawha County is $60,943, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 4.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $147,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for oil change and quick-lube shops (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (55% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in Kanawha County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Kanawha County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in West Virginia · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Kanawha County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Kanawha County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.