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Data updated 2026-10-07

ZIP Code 26851 · Wardensville, WV

Hardy County · pop 1,870 · ACS 2020–2024

The median household income in ZIP Code 26851 (Wardensville, WV) is $49,776, higher than 28% of the other ZIP Codes in West Virginia.

Per FHFA’s index for Hardy County, home prices changed +87.5% over the five years to 2025.

01 — Where it stands

$49,776
Median household income
± $23,554 MOE
$209,400
Median home value
± $60,495 MOE
$820
Median gross rent
19.3%
Poverty rate
Percentiles for ZIP Code 26851 within Hardy County, West Virginia and the U.S.
MeasureValueCounty percentileState percentileU.S. percentile
Median household income$49,776 ± $23,55440th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)28th percentile (296 ZIP Codes compared)11th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Per capita income$32,82380th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)61st percentile (296 ZIP Codes compared)33rd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Poverty rate19.3%40th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)63rd percentile (296 ZIP Codes compared)81st percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher16.8%60th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)46th percentile (296 ZIP Codes compared)22nd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Owner-occupied homes80.6%40th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)52nd percentile (296 ZIP Codes compared)63rd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Housing vacancy rate29.6%60th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)92nd percentile (296 ZIP Codes compared)92nd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Median home value$209,400 ± $60,495100th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)82nd percentile (294 ZIP Codes compared)39th percentile (22,833 ZIP Codes compared)
Median gross rent$82060th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)52nd percentile (295 ZIP Codes compared)21st percentile (22,865 ZIP Codes compared)
Income inequality (Gini index)0.37820th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)16th percentile (296 ZIP Codes compared)15th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared)
Average adjusted gross income per return$61,46880th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)63rd percentile (274 ZIP Codes compared)33rd percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared)
Returns with AGI of $200,000 or more2.1%80th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)51st percentile (274 ZIP Codes compared)26th percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared)
Business establishments per 1,000 residents19.380th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)68th percentile (286 ZIP Codes compared)49th percentile (22,700 ZIP Codes compared)
Average annual pay per employee$36,22620th percentile (6 ZIP Codes compared)25th percentile (277 ZIP Codes compared)12th percentile (22,551 ZIP Codes compared)

Percentile groups: Hardy County · West Virginia · U.S. Hover a percentile for the number of ZIP Codes compared. MOE = 90% margin of error.

02 — Home prices

+17.1%
1-year change, Hardy County
2024–2025
+87.5%
5-year change, Hardy County
2020–2025
+106.9%
10-year change, Hardy County
2015–2025

Home price index — Hardy County

Home price index, Hardy County, 2003–2025Line chart of the annual home price index: 100.0 in 2003 and 299.1 in 2025. Every value is listed in the data table below the chart.100150200250300200320052010201520202025299.1

FHFA does not publish a ZIP-level index for this area; the chart shows the Hardy County index. FHFA county index (2003 = 100) — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.

Data table
Home price index by year, Hardy County
YearIndexAnnual change
2003100.0—
2004116.3+16.4%
2005138.5+19.0%
2006152.5+10.1%
2007160.5+5.2%
2008158.8−1.1%
2009149.6−5.8%
2010145.7−2.6%
2011146.5+0.5%
2012139.3−4.9%
2013141.1+1.3%
2014137.9−2.3%
2015144.5+4.8%
2016143.4−0.8%
2017151.0+5.3%
2018147.9−2.0%
2019153.1+3.5%
2020159.5+4.2%
2021182.4+14.4%
2022188.7+3.5%
2023236.3+25.2%
2024255.4+8.1%
2025299.1+17.1%

03 — Nearby ZIP Codes

ZIP Code 26851 and nearby ZIP Codes
ZIPPlaceDistanceMedian household incomeMedian home valuePoverty rate5-yr HPI change
26851Wardensville, WVthis ZIP Code$49,776$209,40019.3%—
22644Maurertown, VA6.6 mi$75,606$287,0008.2%+60.7%
22654Star Tannery, VA8.0 mi$74,721$417,2005.7%+40.9%
26823Capon Springs, WV8.4 mi$71,330$225,10022.0%—
26810Lost City, WV8.5 mi$60,248$154,6000.0%—
26714Delray, WV9.3 mi$72,159$192,20020.9%—
26801Baker, WV9.9 mi$56,429$206,7007.9%—

Up to six nearest ZIP Code Tabulation Areas within 30 miles, by straight-line distance between Census center points (2024 Gazetteer).

04 — Business mix

36
Establishments
288
Employees
$10.4M
Annual payroll
$36,226
Average pay per employee
Establishments by sector, ZIP Code 26851
SectorEstablishmentsShare of ZIPU.S. shareRelative concentration
Health care & social assistance925.0%11.9%2.1×
Retail trade616.7%12.4%1.3×
Other services513.9%9.5%1.5×
Finance & insurance38.3%5.5%1.5×
Accommodation & food services38.3%9.3%0.9×

Counts are establishments (business locations), not jobs. Relative concentration = the sector’s share of establishments here divided by its share in the U.S. (1.0× = the same share). Average pay is shown only where at least 20 employees are reported. ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023.

05 — About this data

How percentiles are calculated

Percentiles compare this ZIP Code with other ZIP Codes in the same county, the same state and the whole country. Only ZIP Codes with their own American Community Survey estimate, a population of at least 1,000 and a published median household income are compared, and only those with a value for the measure. A percentile of 64th means the value is higher than 64% of the other ZIP Codes in that group (0 is the lowest value, 100 the highest); it describes the size of a number, not a judgment about the area. County and state percentiles are left blank when the group has fewer than 5 ZIP Codes. The number of ZIP Codes compared is shown with each percentile.

Census figures are published for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP Code delivery areas; values shown as — are not published or are suppressed by the source.

Use of this page

Area statistics only. These figures describe a ZIP Code area — not any person or household — and do not rate the area or the people who live there. CoverFi is not a consumer reporting agency; do not use this page to make decisions about credit, insurance, employment or housing.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. Estimates are survey-based and have margins of error.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 (establishment counts by NAICS sector; employment and payroll totals).
  3. Federal Housing Finance Agency, House Price Index for five-digit ZIP Codes, census tracts and counties — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.
  4. IRS Statistics of Income, Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data, tax year 2022.
  5. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (ZCTA locations, used for nearby ZIP Codes).
  6. HUD USPS ZIP Code Crosswalk Files (ZIP-to-tract and ZIP-to-county assignment).

This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the HUD User Data API but is not endorsed or certified by HUD User. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are Census approximations of USPS ZIP Code delivery areas and may not match them exactly. ZIP Code is a trademark of the United States Postal Service.