About one in four people in Boone County, West Virginia, has a disability
In Boone County, 26.0% of people reported a disability. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 93% of U.S. counties.
What drives Boone County's score
In Boone County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 90.5. About one in three adults aged 25 to 54 (34.5%, 2020 to 2024) isn't working, a higher share than in 95% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 84.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Boone County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Boone County does better than most counties on one measure: people without health insurance (4.6%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 90.5 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202685th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working34.5% · 2020 to 202495th percentile
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- 84.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.6% · August 202588th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.7% · August 202580th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score52.5% · second quarter of 202685th percentile
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- 73.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector41.8% · August 202596th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people126.4 · 202550th percentile
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- 72.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.8% · 202483rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.2% · 202479th percentile
- People with a disability26.0% · 2020 to 202497th percentile
- People without health insurance4.6% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$52,928 · 202486th percentile
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- 70.4 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent24.1% · 2020 to 202483rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.4% · fiscal year 202757th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Boone County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Boone County, 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Boone County
West Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Boone County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, but pay from work still brings in 29% more than benefit checks in 2024
In Boone County, West Virginia, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 39.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Boone County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 23.5% in 2017 to 26.7% in 2018.
The share of households in Boone County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2018 and has since fallen to 22.0%
Low on the chart: 14.6% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Boone County, West Virginia.
How Boone County has changed
Boone County's population had its largest drop, from 29,772 in 1984 to 26,406 in 1989.
Boone County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1979 and has since fallen by about a third
High on the chart: 30,892 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Boone County, West Virginia.
The number of jobs located in Boone County had its largest drop, from 8,616 in 2010 to 5,942 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Boone County was at its highest on the chart in 2010 and has since fallen by about half
High on the chart: 8,616 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Boone County, West Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 9.6% | 2025 5.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 19.8% | 2024 18.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,003 | 2024 $52,928 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Boone County's history
1847
Formed in 1847 with territories annexed from Kanawha, Cabell, and Logan counties. Wikipedia
1921
Miners rallied during Mine Wars in Madison. Wikipedia
1950
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 33,173. The 2020 Census counted 21,809, 66% of the peak. Census Bureau
2001
A flash flood in July 2001 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2003
A flash flood in June 2003 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
Fatal mining accidents February 1, 2006. Wikipedia
2010
A flash flood in July 2010 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1967
30 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Boone County, 18 of them for flooding. FEMA
Boone County beside its neighbors
Boone County scores higher than all five counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Boone County ranks 3rd of the six; Logan County is highest, at 42.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming County, WV | 93 | 24.8% | 42.0% |
| Boone County, WV | 93 | 18.8% | 39.1% |
| Logan County, WV | 91 | 21.1% | 42.4% |
| Lincoln County, WV | 89 | 21.4% | 36.9% |
| Raleigh County, WV | 85 | 18.7% | 33.7% |
| Kanawha County, WV | 70 | 15.3% | 29.3% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Boone County the poorest county in West Virginia?
No, Boone County's poverty rate was 18.8% in 2024, 17th highest of 55 in West Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is McDowell County, at 38.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Boone County ranks 6th of 55 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Boone County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Aid of West Virginia
Legal aid
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Mountain State Justice, Inc.
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Boone County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.