Wetzel County, West Virginia is located in the northern panhandle of the state. It borders Ohio and Pennsylvania and is part of the Wheeling metropolitan area. The county has a population of 16,711 people, with a median age of 41.7 years. The median household income is $40,819, and the poverty rate is 16.1%.
The economy of Wetzel County is largely based on manufacturing, with the largest industry being plastics and rubber products. Other major industries include food manufacturing, wood products, and transportation equipment. The unemployment rate in Wetzel County is 5.3%, which is lower than the national average.
Demographically, Wetzel County is mostly white, with a population that is 96.6% non-Hispanic white. The population is also mostly rural, with only 11.7% of the population living in urban areas.
Education in Wetzel County is provided by the Wetzel County Schools, which consists of seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. The school system has a graduation rate of 89.3%, which is higher than the national average.
Real estate in Wetzel County is relatively affordable, with the median home value being $111,400. The median rent is $739, and the median monthly mortgage payment is $1,092. The housing market in the county is largely made up of single-family homes, with only 16.9% of the housing stock being apartments or condominiums.