Zip code 26542: Masontown, West Virginia

Q: What city is zip code 26542?

26542 is assigned to Masontown, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 26542 in?

26542 is mostly in Preston County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 26542?

About 2,067 people live in 26542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 26542?

The median household income in 26542 is $54,375.

Q: What zip codes are near 26542?

The closest zip codes to 26542 are 26524, 26547, 26520, 26531, 26508.

Residential delivery areaPreston CountyEastern Time

Population

2,067

Median household income

$54K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$152K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$883/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

44.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

36 sq mi

58 people/sq mi

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

About 26542

26542 is a small-town zip code in Masontown, West Virginia (Preston County), covering 36 sq mi of land. About 2,067 people live here, or 58 per square mile. The median resident is 44.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $54,375 a year, 33% below the national median of $80,734. 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $152,000, or 2.8 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 86% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $883 a month.

19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29.2 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; healthcare; and construction and repair.

How 26542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Healthcare workers15.4%
96th
U.S. 9.7% · WV 12.5%193rd of 650 in WV
Residents 65 and older25.1%
92nd
U.S. 17.2% · WV 21%248th of 663 in WV
Homeownership rate86.3%
91st
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · WV 74.9%270th of 661 in WV
Veterans10.1%
90th
U.S. 6.2% · WV 7.4%166th of 663 in WV
Rent-burdened renters63%
90th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · WV 48.9%144th of 499 in WV
Median age44.8
85th
U.S. 38.9 · WV 42.7345th of 661 in WV
Poverty rate15.8%
72nd
U.S. 12.5% · WV 16.7%349th of 661 in WV
Average commute29.2 min
70th
U.S. 26.4 min · WV 26.6 min248th of 485 in WV
Housing vacancy8%
60th
U.S. 10.1% · WV 15.4%527th of 661 in WV
Government workers15%
60th
U.S. 14.5% · WV 20.3%415th of 650 in WV
Uninsured rate7.6%
56th
U.S. 8.4% · WV 6%211th of 662 in WV
Self-employed workers9.8%
56th
U.S. 10% · WV 6.8%139th of 650 in WV
Unemployment rate4.7%
47th
U.S. 5.2% · WV 5.4%293rd of 652 in WV
Residents under 1820.7%
37th
U.S. 22% · WV 20%276th of 663 in WV
Median earnings per worker$40,610
23rd
U.S. $49,666 · WV $43,162307th of 615 in WV
Tech workers1.4%
20th
U.S. 3.8% · WV 2.2%150th of 650 in WV
Bachelor's degree or higher19.4%
19th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · WV 24.1%225th of 662 in WV
Broadband access86.6%
17th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · WV 86.1%300th of 661 in WV
Income inequality (Gini)0.395
17th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · WV 0.471370th of 656 in WV
Median household income$54,375
13th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · WV $59,608284th of 540 in WV
Median gross rent$883
12th
U.S. $1,413 · WV $872104th of 297 in WV
Per capita income$26,563
11th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · WV $34,203377th of 659 in WV
Median home value$152,000
10th
U.S. $332,700 · WV $162,600205th of 550 in WV
Work from home5.7%
10th
U.S. 15.1% · WV 9.1%292nd of 650 in WV
Population density58/sq mi
8th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WV 74/sq mi284th of 663 in WV
Foreign-born residents0.8%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · WV 1.8%151st of 663 in WV
Population2,067
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · WV 1,778,373178th of 663 in WV
Diversity index8.3
3rd
U.S. 61.4 · WV 19.3322nd of 663 in WV

Measure	26542	Preston	WV	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WV
Healthcare workers	15.4%	13.5%	12.5%	9.7%	96th	193rd of 650
Residents 65 and older	25.1%	20.5%	21%	17.2%	92nd	248th of 663
Homeownership rateStrength	86.3%	81.5%	74.9%	65.2%	91st	270th of 661
Veterans	10.1%	6.8%	7.4%	6.2%	90th	166th of 663
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	63%	51.4%	48.9%	51.1%	90th	144th of 499
Median age	44.8	43.3	42.7	38.9	85th	345th of 661
Poverty rate	15.8%	13.8%	16.7%	12.5%	72nd	349th of 661
Average commute	29.2 min	31.1 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	70th	248th of 485
Housing vacancy	8%	15.6%	15.4%	10.1%	60th	527th of 661
Government workers	15%	19.6%	20.3%	14.5%	60th	415th of 650
Uninsured rate	7.6%	7.9%	6%	8.4%	56th	211th of 662
Self-employed workers	9.8%	8.6%	6.8%	10%	56th	139th of 650
Unemployment rate	4.7%	5.3%	5.4%	5.2%	47th	293rd of 652
Residents under 18	20.7%	17.9%	20%	22%	37th	276th of 663
Median earnings per worker	$40,610	$40,393	$43,162	$49,666	23rd	307th of 615
Tech workers	1.4%	2.2%	2.2%	3.8%	20th	150th of 650
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	19.4%	17.5%	24.1%	35.7%	19th	225th of 662
Broadband accessWeakness	86.6%	86.4%	86.1%	91%	17th	300th of 661
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.395	0.408	0.471	0.483	17th	370th of 656
Median household incomeWeakness	$54,375	$61,880	$59,608	$80,734	13th	284th of 540
Median gross rent	$883	$750	$872	$1,413	12th	104th of 297
Per capita incomeWeakness	$26,563	$29,033	$34,203	$44,673	11th	377th of 659
Median home value	$152,000	$162,800	$162,600	$332,700	10th	205th of 550
Work from home	5.7%	8.6%	9.1%	15.1%	10th	292nd of 650
Population density	58/sq mi	53/sq mi	74/sq mi	95/sq mi	8th	284th of 663
Foreign-born residents	0.8%	1.6%	1.8%	14.1%	5th	151st of 663
Population	2,067	34,160	1,778,373	334,922,499	3rd	178th of 663
Diversity index	8.3	23.2	19.3	61.4	3rd	322nd of 663

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

Under 5

15%

5–17

18–24

14%

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

14%

55–64

16%

65–74

75+

Median age

44.8

Under 18

20.7%

65 and over

25.1%

Race and ethnicity

White96%
Black0%
Hispanic0.8%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

8.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

84.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

99%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.9%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 890
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 73.4%
Married couples: 53.8%
Living alone: 21.9%
Veterans (of adults): 10.1%
Male / female: 56% / 44%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

28%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

19%

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

26542

$54,375

Preston Co.

$61,880

West Virginia

$59,608

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$26,563

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

6.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.395

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

26542

$152,000

Preston Co.

$162,800

West Virginia

$162,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

26542

$883

Preston Co.

$750

West Virginia

$872

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

71%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

22%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 967
Owner-occupied: 86.3%
Vacant: 8%
Median year built: 1982
Median rooms: 6.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 63%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 3.7%
Home value to income: 2.8× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

86%

Carpooled

Transit

0.5%

Walked

0.9%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

28%

20–29

18%

30–44

32%

45–59

60+

17%

Average commute

29.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

48.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

20%

Healthcare

15%

Construction and repair

15%

Sales

14%

Production

Office and admin

Education

Management

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Business and finance

Computer and math

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

0.9%

Engineering and science

0.3%

Police and fire

0.3%

Legal and social services

0.1%

Industries

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

21%

Health care and social assistance

18%

Retail

17%

Construction

10%

Manufacturing

Other services

Education

Professional and technical services

Agriculture and mining

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Restaurants and hotels

0.9%

Finance, insurance and real estate

0.3%

Public administration

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$40,610

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

1.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	26542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$80,096	$74,888
Service	$20,699	$26,804
Sales and office	$28,015	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$50,515	$49,199
Production and transportation	$40,833	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

48%

Some college

16%

Associate's

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 85.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.2%
Households with broadband: 86.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 59.1%
No internet access: 10.8%
Without health insurance: 7.6%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Masontown
State: West Virginia
County: Preston County
Center point: 39.5746° N, 79.7828° W
Land area: 36 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

26542 spans 2 counties

Preston County75% of land
Monongalia County25% of land

Zip codes near 26542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
26524	Bretz, WV	2.7 mi	77	$110,855	$112,500
26547	Reedsville, WV	4.6 mi	2,828	$76,084	$204,000
26520	Arthurdale, WV	5.5 mi	483	—	$198,400
26531	Dellslow, WV · PO box	6.4 mi	—	—	—
26508	Morgantown, WV	6.6 mi	40,231	$90,041	$311,500
26537	Kingwood, WV	7.1 mi	5,276	$59,844	$169,900
26507	Morgantown, WV · PO box	7.9 mi	—	—	—
26519	Albright, WV	8.3 mi	2,363	$54,328	$128,500
26374	Independence, WV	9.8 mi	1,676	$57,321	$162,300
26525	Bruceton Mills, WV	10 mi	8,630	$82,114	$216,100
26505	Morgantown, WV	10 mi	37,492	$45,536	$278,000
26502	Morgantown, WV · PO box	10 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 26542 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 26542

What city is zip code 26542?

26542 is assigned to Masontown, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 26542 in?

26542 is mostly in Preston County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 26542?

About 2,067 people live in 26542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 26542 in?

26542 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 26542?

The median household income in 26542 is $54,375.

What zip codes are near 26542?

The closest zip codes to 26542 are 26524, 26547, 26520, 26531, 26508.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 26542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.