County profile · West Virginia
Nicholas County, WV market data
How Nicholas County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 23,848
- −2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 9,466
- Median household income
- $54,639
- +36.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $121,600
- Jobs located here
- 6,859
- Highest market score
- 52
- Clothing, shoes and laundry, #1,039 of 2,210 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Nicholas County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Nicholas 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
Nicholas County has an estimated 23,848 people and 9,466 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Nicholas County declined 2.9%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Nicholas County is $54,639, 32% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 36.3%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Nicholas County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Of the business types scored in Nicholas County, clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (52); clothing and shoe stores (46); and real estate agents and brokers (41) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For clothing, shoe and laundry businesses, that ranks #1,039 of 2,210 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (62% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Nicholas County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Nicholas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 52 | #1,039 of 2,210 | 10 | 10.6 | $1.5M | 172 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 46 | #1,176 of 2,087 | 9 | 9.5 | $1.7M | 133 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 41 | #1,501 of 2,176 | 12 | 12.7 | Index only | 192 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 41 | #1,551 of 2,229 | 14 | 14.8 | Index only | 207 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 41 | #1,671 of 2,385 | 31 | 32.7 | $230K | 108 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 39 | #1,268 of 1,769 | 5 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 38 | #1,589 of 2,200 | 9 | 9.5 | $770K | 88 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 37 | #1,168 of 1,611 | 5 | 5.3 | $629K | 63 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 35 | #1,458 of 1,889 | 6 | 6.3 | $4.9M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 35 | #1,636 of 2,272 | 17 | 18.0 | $1.4M | 109 | 13 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 32 | #2,011 of 2,394 | 46 | 48.6 | $194K | 127 | 23 |
| Hair salons | 29 | #2,041 of 2,339 | 16 | 16.9 | $446K | 104 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 28 | #1,834 of 2,088 | 8 | 8.5 | $627K | 95 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 28 | #2,008 of 2,402 | 25 | 26.4 | $2M | 60 | 6 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 27 | #1,709 of 1,886 | 8 | 8.5 | $1.1M | 113 | 8 |
| Auto repair and car care | 27 | #2,115 of 2,401 | 40 | 42.3 | $206K | 77 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 26 | #1,848 of 2,063 | 8 | 8.5 | $3.7M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 25 | #2,114 of 2,358 | 21 | 22.2 | $1.3M | 54 | 14 |
| Pizza | 24 | #1,924 of 2,090 | 10 | 10.6 | $2.9M | 58 | 17 |
| Auto repair shops | 22 | #2,210 of 2,378 | 24 | 25.4 | $343K | 77 | 11 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 21 | #1,531 of 1,656 | 8 | 8.5 | $1.1M | 63 | 12 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 21 | #2,037 of 2,222 | 16 | 16.9 | $1.8M | 60 | 17 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 19 | #2,296 of 2,405 | 92 | 97.2 | $320K | 86 | 44 |
| Nail salons | 18 | #1,249 of 1,328 | 5 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 85 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 18 | #1,913 of 2,070 | 10 | 10.6 | $5.1M | 55 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 17 | #2,349 of 2,405 | 48 | 50.7 | $613K | 92 | 25 |
| Barbershops | 16 | #1,258 of 1,356 | 5 | 5.3 | $1.4M | 76 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 16 | #2,100 of 2,261 | 14 | 14.8 | $3.7M | 46 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 15 | #1,393 of 1,451 | 5 | 5.3 | $1.6M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.2 | $402K | 59 | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 4.2 | $1.3M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.2 | $1.7M | 83 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.2 | $2.3M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 3.2 | $3M | 124 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $6M | Too few | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $6M | Too few | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $4.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.1 | $3.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $23M | Too few | 6 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $23M | Too few | 20 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $8.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 9 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
Household spending in Nicholas 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 | $8.2M | $869 | 91 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $27M | $2,854 | 110 |
| Food away from home | $29.4M | $3,110 | 76 |
| Groceries | $51.2M | $5,410 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $7.1M | $754 | 75 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.1M | $332 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5M | $530 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $8.9M | $943 | 73 |
| Pets | $6.9M | $732 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $15.2M | $1,601 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $23.2M | $2,447 | 125 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $23M | $2,434 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $12M | $1,263 | 89 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $125.7M | $13,279 | 80 |
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 Nicholas County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 23,848−2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 9,466
- Median age
- 45.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 82%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 647 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 38
- Median household income
- $54,639+36.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $74,713
- Median home value
- $121,600
- Jobs located here
- 6,859
- Daytime population
- 22,538Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Nicholas 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 Nicholas County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Clay County, WV7,835 people
- Fayette County, WV39,519 people
- Braxton County, WV12,208 people
- Greenbrier County, WV32,386 people
- Pocahontas County, WV7,784 people
- Raleigh County, WV73,195 people
- Summers County, WV11,729 people
Questions
How fast is Nicholas County, WV growing?
Population estimates put Nicholas County at 23,848 people in 2025, down 2.9% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 9,466 households. Median household income rose 36.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Nicholas County, WV spend?
Households in Nicholas County spend about $125.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $51.2M on groceries and $29.4M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Nicholas County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Nicholas County, WV?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Nicholas County are for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (52); clothing and shoe stores (46); and real estate agents and brokers (41). Nicholas County ranks #1,039 of 2,210 scored counties for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses.
How does Nicholas County, WV compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Nicholas County is $54,639 a year, 32% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $121,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Nicholas County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (62% 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. 29 of the 56 business types have a score in Nicholas 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 Nicholas 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.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Nicholas 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 Nicholas 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.