Zip code 26610: Birch River, West Virginia

Q: What city is zip code 26610?

26610 is assigned to Birch River, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 26610 in?

26610 is mostly in Nicholas County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 26610?

About 723 people live in 26610, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 26610?

The median household income in 26610 is $37,165.

Q: What zip codes are near 26610?

The closest zip codes to 26610 are 26691, 26629, 26660, 26617, 26203.

Residential delivery areaNicholas CountyEastern Time

Population

723

Median household income

$37K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$84K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$825/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

59.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

75 sq mi

10 people/sq mi

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

About 26610

26610 is a rural zip code in Birch River, West Virginia (Nicholas County), covering 75 sq mi of land. About 723 people live here, or 10 per square mile. The median resident is 59.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $37,165 a year, about 46% of the national median of $80,734. 12% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $84,300, or 2.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 79% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $825 a month.

17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 32.3 minutes each way, and 2% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; cleaning and personal care; and healthcare.

How 26610 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age59.2
99th
U.S. 38.9 · WV 42.776th of 661 in WV
Rent-burdened renters91.5%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · WV 48.9%80th of 499 in WV
Residents 65 and older41.9%
99th
U.S. 17.2% · WV 21%53rd of 663 in WV
Veterans16.3%
98th
U.S. 6.2% · WV 7.4%47th of 663 in WV
Housing vacancy27.9%
97th
U.S. 10.1% · WV 15.4%143rd of 661 in WV
Unemployment rate10.3%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · WV 5.4%131st of 652 in WV
Average commute32.3 min
84th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · WV 26.6 min179th of 485 in WV
Homeownership rate79.2%
77th
U.S. 65.2% · WV 74.9%407th of 661 in WV
Healthcare workers11.1%
72nd
U.S. 9.7% · WV 12.5%303rd of 650 in WV
Government workers15.7%
64th
U.S. 14.5% · WV 20.3%398th of 650 in WV
Poverty rate12%
56th
U.S. 12.5% · WV 16.7%430th of 661 in WV
Uninsured rate5.3%
36th
U.S. 8.4% · WV 6%309th of 662 in WV
Residents under 1817.8%
18th
U.S. 22% · WV 20%385th of 663 in WV
Bachelor's degree or higher16.7%
13th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · WV 24.1%287th of 662 in WV
Income inequality (Gini)0.383
11th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · WV 0.471419th of 656 in WV
Diversity index16.1
9th
U.S. 61.4 · WV 19.3175th of 663 in WV
Median gross rent$825
8th
U.S. $1,413 · WV $872134th of 297 in WV
Per capita income$24,601
7th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · WV $34,203437th of 659 in WV
Median household income$37,165
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · WV $59,608466th of 540 in WV
Median earnings per worker$28,783
2nd
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · WV $43,162527th of 615 in WV
Self-employed workers3.8%
2nd
U.S. 10% · WV 6.8%343rd of 650 in WV
Population723
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · WV 1,778,373370th of 663 in WV
Population density10/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · WV 74/sq mi619th of 663 in WV
Median home value$84,300
1st
U.S. $332,700 · WV $162,600439th of 550 in WV
Work from home2%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · WV 9.1%400th of 650 in WV
Broadband access72.2%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · WV 86.1%537th of 661 in WV
Foreign-born residents0%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · WV 1.8%513th of 663 in WV
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · WV 2.2%503rd of 650 in WV

Measure	26610	Nicholas	WV	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WV
Median age	59.2	46.1	42.7	38.9	99th	76th of 661
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	91.5%	32.3%	48.9%	51.1%	99th	80th of 499
Residents 65 and older	41.9%	23.9%	21%	17.2%	99th	53rd of 663
Veterans	16.3%	7.6%	7.4%	6.2%	98th	47th of 663
Housing vacancy	27.9%	24.6%	15.4%	10.1%	97th	143rd of 661
Unemployment rateWeakness	10.3%	5.9%	5.4%	5.2%	95th	131st of 652
Average commuteWeakness	32.3 min	33.1 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	84th	179th of 485
Homeownership rate	79.2%	82.2%	74.9%	65.2%	77th	407th of 661
Healthcare workers	11.1%	14.1%	12.5%	9.7%	72nd	303rd of 650
Government workers	15.7%	17.6%	20.3%	14.5%	64th	398th of 650
Poverty rate	12%	15.4%	16.7%	12.5%	56th	430th of 661
Uninsured rate	5.3%	5.8%	6%	8.4%	36th	309th of 662
Residents under 18	17.8%	21.1%	20%	22%	18th	385th of 663
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	16.7%	23.3%	24.1%	35.7%	13th	287th of 662
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.383	0.483	0.471	0.483	11th	419th of 656
Diversity index	16.1	7.3	19.3	61.4	9th	175th of 663
Median gross rent	$825	$686	$872	$1,413	8th	134th of 297
Per capita incomeWeakness	$24,601	$32,265	$34,203	$44,673	7th	437th of 659
Median household incomeWeakness	$37,165	$54,639	$59,608	$80,734	2nd	466th of 540
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$28,783	$41,612	$43,162	$49,666	2nd	527th of 615
Self-employed workers	3.8%	8.1%	6.8%	10%	2nd	343rd of 650
Population	723	24,277	1,778,373	334,922,499	1st	370th of 663
Population density	10/sq mi	38/sq mi	74/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	619th of 663
Median home value	$84,300	$121,600	$162,600	$332,700	1st	439th of 550
Work from home	2%	4.8%	9.1%	15.1%	1st	400th of 650
Broadband accessWeakness	72.2%	83.2%	86.1%	91%	1st	537th of 661
Foreign-born residents	0%	1.6%	1.8%	14.1%	1st	513th of 663
Tech workers	0%	0.7%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	503rd 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

Under 5

18%

5–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

10%

45–54

19%

55–64

28%

65–74

14%

75+

Median age

59.2

Under 18

17.8%

65 and over

41.9%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black3%
Hispanic0%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other2%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

16.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

81.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 395
Average household size: 1.8
Family households: 46.8%
Married couples: 37.5%
Living alone: 39.7%
Veterans (of adults): 16.3%
Male / female: 45% / 55%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

24%

$25–50k

47%

$50–75k

13%

$75–100k

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

26610

$37,165

Nicholas Co.

$54,639

West Virginia

$59,608

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$24,601

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.383

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

26610

$84,300

Nicholas Co.

$121,600

West Virginia

$162,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

26610

$825

Nicholas Co.

$686

West Virginia

$872

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

60%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

36%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 548
Owner-occupied: 79.2%
Vacant: 27.9%
Median year built: 1986
Median rooms: 6.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 91.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 91.5%
Home value to income: 2.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

88%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

20–29

23%

30–44

63%

45–59

60+

Average commute

32.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

10.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

44.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

18%

Cleaning and personal care

18%

Healthcare

11%

Production

10%

Food service

10%

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Education

Management

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Sales

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Restaurants and hotels

25%

Wholesale

17%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Public administration

11%

Construction

Agriculture and mining

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Manufacturing

Admin, support and management

Other services

Retail

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$28,783

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

3.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	26610	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$58,750	$74,888
Service	$17,805	$26,804
Sales and office	—	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	$79,153	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

50%

Some college

24%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

11%

High school graduate or higher: 97%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 11.1%
Households with broadband: 72.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 37%
No internet access: 27.8%
Without health insurance: 5.3%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Birch River
State: West Virginia
County: Nicholas County
Center point: 38.4676° N, 80.7053° W
Land area: 75 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

26610 spans 2 counties

Nicholas County80% of land
Webster County20% of land

Zip codes near 26610

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
26691	Tioga, WV	5.4 mi	741	$85,420	$159,800
26629	Little Birch, WV	6.6 mi	257	—	$114,600
26660	Calvin, WV	7.7 mi	449	—	—
26617	Dille, WV	8 mi	763	$56,250	—
26203	Erbacon, WV	8.4 mi	312	$26,343	under $10,000
25211	Widen, WV	9.9 mi	100	$19,659	—
26205	Craigsville, WV	11 mi	2,957	$37,378	$81,000
26208	Camden On Gauley, WV	11 mi	893	$49,922	$68,800
26601	Sutton, WV	11 mi	4,121	$50,469	$116,600
26266	Upperglade, WV	11 mi	217	—	—
26671	Gilboa, WV	14 mi	459	$51,050	$108,000
25063	Duck, WV	14 mi	1,309	$61,731	$136,500

Questions about 26610

What city is zip code 26610?

26610 is assigned to Birch River, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 26610 in?

26610 is mostly in Nicholas County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 26610?

About 723 people live in 26610, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 26610 in?

26610 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 26610?

The median household income in 26610 is $37,165.

What zip codes are near 26610?

The closest zip codes to 26610 are 26691, 26629, 26660, 26617, 26203.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 26610, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.