Zip code 26161: Petroleum, West Virginia

Q: What city is zip code 26161?

26161 is assigned to Petroleum, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 26161 in?

26161 is in Ritchie County, West Virginia.

Q: What is the population of 26161?

About 415 people live in 26161, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What zip codes are near 26161?

The closest zip codes to 26161 are 26337, 26180, 26148, 26143, 26362.

Residential delivery areaRitchie CountyEastern Time

Population

415

Small sample: rough estimates

Median household income

—

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$163K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

62.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

49 sq mi

8 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 26161

26161 is a rural zip code in Petroleum, West Virginia (Ritchie County), covering 49 sq mi of land. About 415 people live here, or 8 per square mile. The median resident is 62.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally. With so few residents, the Census figures below are rough estimates with wide margins of error.

33.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). The median home value is $162,500. 100% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 31.9 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; transportation and moving goods; and production and manufacturing.

How 26161 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Only about 415 people live here, so these survey estimates have wide margins of error.

Median age62.5
99th
U.S. 38.9 · WV 42.752nd of 661 in WV
Homeownership rate100%
99th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · WV 74.9%84th of 661 in WV
Healthcare workers18.2%
99th
U.S. 9.7% · WV 12.5%136th of 650 in WV
Poverty rate33.3%
97th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · WV 16.7%93rd of 661 in WV
Residents 65 and older30.8%
97th
U.S. 17.2% · WV 21%140th of 663 in WV
Uninsured rate14.5%
87th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · WV 6%57th of 662 in WV
Average commute31.9 min
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · WV 26.6 min186th of 485 in WV
Median earnings per worker$55,455
68th
U.S. $49,666 · WV $43,16283rd of 615 in WV
Income inequality (Gini)0.452
64th
U.S. 0.483 · WV 0.471184th of 656 in WV
Housing vacancy6.5%
49th
U.S. 10.1% · WV 15.4%547th of 661 in WV
Residents under 1821.2%
42nd
U.S. 22% · WV 20%261st of 663 in WV
Veterans5.2%
41st
U.S. 6.2% · WV 7.4%423rd of 663 in WV
Median home value$162,500
12th
U.S. $332,700 · WV $162,600164th of 550 in WV
Work from home5.5%
9th
U.S. 15.1% · WV 9.1%302nd of 650 in WV
Per capita income$23,163
6th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · WV $34,203483rd of 659 in WV
Population415
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · WV 1,778,373494th of 663 in WV
Population density8/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · WV 74/sq mi632nd of 663 in WV
Bachelor's degree or higher7.3%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · WV 24.1%492nd of 662 in WV
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · WV 5.4%612th of 652 in WV
Diversity index0
1st
U.S. 61.4 · WV 19.3639th of 663 in WV
Broadband access52.9%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · WV 86.1%630th of 661 in WV
Foreign-born residents0%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · WV 1.8%593rd of 663 in WV
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · WV 2.2%575th of 650 in WV
Self-employed workers0%
1st
U.S. 10% · WV 6.8%611th of 650 in WV
Government workers0%
1st
U.S. 14.5% · WV 20.3%636th of 650 in WV

Measure	26161	Ritchie	WV	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WV
Median age	62.5	46.1	42.7	38.9	99th	52nd of 661
Homeownership rateStrength	100%	84.2%	74.9%	65.2%	99th	84th of 661
Healthcare workers	18.2%	8.7%	12.5%	9.7%	99th	136th of 650
Poverty rateWeakness	33.3%	21.6%	16.7%	12.5%	97th	93rd of 661
Residents 65 and older	30.8%	23%	21%	17.2%	97th	140th of 663
Uninsured rateWeakness	14.5%	7.8%	6%	8.4%	87th	57th of 662
Average commuteWeakness	31.9 min	33 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	83rd	186th of 485
Median earnings per worker	$55,455	$34,792	$43,162	$49,666	68th	83rd of 615
Income inequality (Gini)	0.452	0.442	0.471	0.483	64th	184th of 656
Housing vacancy	6.5%	18.8%	15.4%	10.1%	49th	547th of 661
Residents under 18	21.2%	19.9%	20%	22%	42nd	261st of 663
Veterans	5.2%	7%	7.4%	6.2%	41st	423rd of 663
Median home value	$162,500	$115,900	$162,600	$332,700	12th	164th of 550
Work from home	5.5%	9.8%	9.1%	15.1%	9th	302nd of 650
Per capita incomeWeakness	$23,163	$27,681	$34,203	$44,673	6th	483rd of 659
Population	415	8,286	1,778,373	334,922,499	1st	494th of 663
Population density	8/sq mi	18/sq mi	74/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	632nd of 663
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	7.3%	14.4%	24.1%	35.7%	1st	492nd of 662
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	2.4%	5.4%	5.2%	1st	612th of 652
Diversity index	0	6.9	19.3	61.4	1st	639th of 663
Broadband accessWeakness	52.9%	80.7%	86.1%	91%	1st	630th of 661
Foreign-born residents	0%	1.4%	1.8%	14.1%	1st	593rd of 663
Tech workers	0%	0.9%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	575th of 650
Self-employed workers	0%	8.4%	6.8%	10%	1st	611th of 650
Government workers	0%	26.1%	20.3%	14.5%	1st	636th of 650

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

21%

Under 5

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

35–44

45–54

35%

55–64

16%

65–74

15%

75+

Median age

62.5

Under 18

21.2%

65 and over

30.8%

Race and ethnicity

White100%
Black0%
Hispanic0%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

72.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

100%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 174
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 41.4%
Married couples: 41.4%
Living alone: 35.1%
Veterans (of adults): 5.2%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

43%

$25–50k

$50–75k

22%

$75–100k

$100–150k

22%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

26161

—

Ritchie Co.

$50,582

West Virginia

$59,608

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$23,163

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

33.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.452

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

26161

$162,500

Ritchie Co.

$115,900

West Virginia

$162,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

26161

—

Ritchie Co.

$579

West Virginia

$872

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

37%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

60%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 186
Owner-occupied: 100%
Vacant: 6.5%
Median year built: 1977
Median rooms: 4.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: —
Renters paying 50%+ of income: —
Home value to income: —

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

95%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

20–29

23%

30–44

54%

45–59

23%

60+

Average commute

31.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

33.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

28%

Transportation and moving

25%

Production

21%

Healthcare

18%

Cleaning and personal care

Management

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Education

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Food service

Sales

Construction and repair

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Finance, insurance and real estate

23%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

21%

Admin, support and management

21%

Construction

14%

Manufacturing

12%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Education

Retail

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Public administration

Other services

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$55,455

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

U.S. 10%

Government workers

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	26161	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	—	$74,888
Service	—	$26,804
Sales and office	—	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	$57,019	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

60%

Some college

22%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 91.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.4%
Households with broadband: 52.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 52.9%
No internet access: 47.1%
Without health insurance: 14.5%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Petroleum
State: West Virginia
County: Ritchie County
Center point: 39.1597° N, 81.2460° W
Land area: 49 sq mi
Water area: 0.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 26161

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
26337	Cairo, WV	6.7 mi	806	$49,306	$103,900
26180	Walker, WV	6.9 mi	2,106	$70,625	$116,900
26148	Macfarlan, WV	7.8 mi	164	$44,177	$85,000
26143	Elizabeth, WV	9.9 mi	3,363	$55,402	$95,100
26362	Harrisville, WV	10 mi	3,270	$53,125	$118,700
26138	Brohard, WV	11 mi	58	$115,729	$214,600
26184	Waverly, WV	11 mi	2,352	$62,550	$165,600
26142	Davisville, WV	12 mi	2,262	$62,941	$113,200
26152	Munday, WV	13 mi	0	—	—
26346	Ellenboro, WV	13 mi	675	$73,641	$142,300
26178	Smithville, WV	14 mi	184	$35,139	$137,500
26102	Parkersburg, WV · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—

Questions about 26161

What city is zip code 26161?

26161 is assigned to Petroleum, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 26161 in?

26161 is in Ritchie County, West Virginia.

What is the population of 26161?

About 415 people live in 26161, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 26161 in?

26161 is in Eastern Time.

What zip codes are near 26161?

The closest zip codes to 26161 are 26337, 26180, 26148, 26143, 26362.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 26161, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.