Zip code 26851: Wardensville, West Virginia

Q: What city is zip code 26851?

26851 is assigned to Wardensville, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 26851 in?

26851 is mostly in Hardy County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 26851?

About 1,870 people live in 26851, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 26851?

The median household income in 26851 is $49,776.

Q: What zip codes are near 26851?

The closest zip codes to 26851 are 22644, 22654, 26823, 26810, 26714.

Residential delivery areaHardy CountyEastern Time

Population

1,870

Median household income

$50K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$209K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$820/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

54.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

102 sq mi

18 people/sq mi

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

About 26851

26851 is a rural zip code in Wardensville, West Virginia (Hardy County), covering 102 sq mi of land. About 1,870 people live here, or 18 per square mile. The median resident is 54.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $49,776 a year, 38% below the national median of $80,734. 19.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $209,400, or 4.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 81% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $820 a month.

17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 49.6 minutes each way, and 0% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in transportation and moving goods; construction and repair; and sales.

How 26851 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Average commute49.6 min
99th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · WV 26.6 min24th of 485 in WV
Housing vacancy29.6%
98th
U.S. 10.1% · WV 15.4%128th of 661 in WV
Median age54.1
97th
U.S. 38.9 · WV 42.7134th of 661 in WV
Residents 65 and older31%
97th
U.S. 17.2% · WV 21%137th of 663 in WV
Veterans9.6%
88th
U.S. 6.2% · WV 7.4%177th of 663 in WV
Poverty rate19.3%
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · WV 16.7%285th of 661 in WV
Homeownership rate80.6%
80th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · WV 74.9%379th of 661 in WV
Unemployment rate5.4%
59th
U.S. 5.2% · WV 5.4%260th of 652 in WV
Uninsured rate7.5%
55th
U.S. 8.4% · WV 6%213th of 662 in WV
Median earnings per worker$47,500
48th
U.S. $49,666 · WV $43,162172nd of 615 in WV
Broadband access91.6%
45th
U.S. 91% · WV 86.1%171st of 661 in WV
Government workers12.9%
43rd
U.S. 14.5% · WV 20.3%451st of 650 in WV
Per capita income$32,823
27th
U.S. $44,673 · WV $34,203207th of 659 in WV
Self-employed workers7.6%
27th
U.S. 10% · WV 6.8%202nd of 650 in WV
Median home value$209,400
23rd
U.S. $332,700 · WV $162,60073rd of 550 in WV
Bachelor's degree or higher16.8%
13th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · WV 24.1%284th of 662 in WV
Diversity index19.1
12th
U.S. 61.4 · WV 19.3133rd of 663 in WV
Median household income$49,776
9th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · WV $59,608351st of 540 in WV
Income inequality (Gini)0.378
9th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · WV 0.471433rd of 656 in WV
Median gross rent$820
8th
U.S. $1,413 · WV $872138th of 297 in WV
Population1,870
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · WV 1,778,373192nd of 663 in WV
Population density18/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · WV 74/sq mi536th of 663 in WV
Rent-burdened renters19.8%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · WV 48.9%355th of 499 in WV
Residents under 188.7%
2nd
U.S. 22% · WV 20%560th of 663 in WV
Healthcare workers4.1%
2nd
U.S. 9.7% · WV 12.5%473rd of 650 in WV
Work from home0.3%
1st
U.S. 15.1% · WV 9.1%422nd of 650 in WV
Foreign-born residents0.1%
1st
U.S. 14.1% · WV 1.8%238th of 663 in WV
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · WV 2.2%350th of 650 in WV

Measure	26851	Hardy	WV	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WV
Average commuteWeakness	49.6 min	29.7 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	99th	24th of 485
Housing vacancy	29.6%	28.1%	15.4%	10.1%	98th	128th of 661
Median age	54.1	46.7	42.7	38.9	97th	134th of 661
Residents 65 and older	31%	23.2%	21%	17.2%	97th	137th of 663
Veterans	9.6%	8%	7.4%	6.2%	88th	177th of 663
Poverty rateWeakness	19.3%	17.7%	16.7%	12.5%	83rd	285th of 661
Homeownership rateStrength	80.6%	77.3%	74.9%	65.2%	80th	379th of 661
Unemployment rate	5.4%	7.3%	5.4%	5.2%	59th	260th of 652
Uninsured rate	7.5%	7.8%	6%	8.4%	55th	213th of 662
Median earnings per worker	$47,500	$36,914	$43,162	$49,666	48th	172nd of 615
Broadband access	91.6%	83.9%	86.1%	91%	45th	171st of 661
Government workers	12.9%	17.5%	20.3%	14.5%	43rd	451st of 650
Per capita income	$32,823	$29,801	$34,203	$44,673	27th	207th of 659
Self-employed workers	7.6%	13.8%	6.8%	10%	27th	202nd of 650
Median home value	$209,400	$166,300	$162,600	$332,700	23rd	73rd of 550
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	16.8%	15.7%	24.1%	35.7%	13th	284th of 662
Diversity index	19.1	20.8	19.3	61.4	12th	133rd of 663
Median household incomeWeakness	$49,776	$49,272	$59,608	$80,734	9th	351st of 540
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.378	0.430	0.471	0.483	9th	433rd of 656
Median gross rent	$820	$816	$872	$1,413	8th	138th of 297
Population	1,870	14,243	1,778,373	334,922,499	3rd	192nd of 663
Population density	18/sq mi	25/sq mi	74/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	536th of 663
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	19.8%	30%	48.9%	51.1%	2nd	355th of 499
Residents under 18	8.7%	19.8%	20%	22%	2nd	560th of 663
Healthcare workers	4.1%	5.8%	12.5%	9.7%	2nd	473rd of 650
Work from home	0.3%	9.1%	9.1%	15.1%	1st	422nd of 650
Foreign-born residents	0.1%	2.1%	1.8%	14.1%	1st	238th of 663
Tech workers	0%	0.2%	2.2%	3.8%	1st	350th 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

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

35–44

24%

45–54

14%

55–64

12%

65–74

19%

75+

Median age

54.1

Under 18

8.7%

65 and over

31%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black0%
Hispanic7%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0.2%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

19.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

25.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.2%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 945
Average household size: 2
Family households: 63.7%
Married couples: 46.5%
Living alone: 36.3%
Veterans (of adults): 9.6%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

18%

$25–50k

32%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

$100–150k

21%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

26851

$49,776

Hardy Co.

$49,272

West Virginia

$59,608

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,823

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

19.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

5.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.378

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

26851

$209,400

Hardy Co.

$166,300

West Virginia

$162,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

26851

$820

Hardy Co.

$816

West Virginia

$872

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

88%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,343
Owner-occupied: 80.6%
Vacant: 29.6%
Median year built: 1979
Median rooms: 6.1
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 19.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 2.4%
Home value to income: 4.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

88%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

0.3%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

14%

20–29

30–44

29%

45–59

14%

60+

31%

Average commute

49.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

48.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Transportation and moving

21%

Construction and repair

18%

Sales

15%

Management

11%

Office and admin

Farming, fishing and forestry

Food service

Healthcare

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

0.5%

Business and finance

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Industries

Retail

25%

Other services

14%

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Education

Manufacturing

Health care and social assistance

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

0.1%

Professional and technical services

Information

Median earnings per worker

$47,500

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	26851	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$44,934	$74,888
Service	$19,583	$26,804
Sales and office	$29,479	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$48,795	$49,199
Production and transportation	$60,139	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

46%

Some college

18%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.1%
Households with broadband: 91.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 76.9%
No internet access: 5.6%
Without health insurance: 7.5%
Limited-English households: 3.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Wardensville
State: West Virginia
County: Hardy County
Center point: 39.0471° N, 78.6110° W
Land area: 102 sq mi
Water area: 0.4 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

26851 spans 2 counties

Hardy County94% of land
Hampshire County6% of land

Zip codes near 26851

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
22644	Maurertown, VA	6.6 mi	2,561	$75,606	$287,000
22654	Star Tannery, VA	8 mi	1,040	$74,721	$417,200
26823	Capon Springs, WV	8.4 mi	109	—	—
26810	Lost City, WV	8.5 mi	319	—	$154,600
26714	Delray, WV	9.3 mi	441	$72,159	$192,200
26801	Baker, WV	9.9 mi	1,517	$56,429	$206,700
26808	High View, WV	11 mi	903	$70,313	$203,900
26755	Rio, WV	11 mi	607	—	$178,000
22660	Toms Brook, VA	11 mi	1,468	$67,917	$268,600
22664	Woodstock, VA	12 mi	9,293	$73,530	$303,900
22626	Fishers Hill, VA · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
22641	Strasburg, VA	12 mi	165	$136,167	$245,200

Zip codes like 26851 elsewhere

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

Questions about 26851

What city is zip code 26851?

26851 is assigned to Wardensville, West Virginia. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 26851 in?

26851 is mostly in Hardy County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 26851?

About 1,870 people live in 26851, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 26851 in?

26851 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 26851?

The median household income in 26851 is $49,776.

What zip codes are near 26851?

The closest zip codes to 26851 are 22644, 22654, 26823, 26810, 26714.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 26851, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.