City

Lester, WV

1 ZIP code  ·  Raleigh County  ·  West Virginia

👥1,431Population
💰$39,509Median HH Income▼ 48% below avg
🎂57.5Median Age
🏠$163,200Median Home Value▼ 41% below avg
🎓20.4%College Grads▼ 47% below avg
📊1.1%Unemployment▼ 77% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 49.5% Female 50.5% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 93.2%Hispanic: 0.1%Black: 2.5%Other: 4.2%Race
White93.2%
Hispanic0.1%
Black2.5%
Other4.2%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
2%
5–17
16%
18–24
3%
25–44
10%
45–64
41%
65+
18%

Key Indicators

Median Age57.5 yrs
Avg HH Size2.32
Below Poverty34.7% ▲ 247% above avg
College Grads20.4% ▼ 47% below avg
Unemployment1.1% ▼ 77% below avg
HS Graduate709 (68.4%)
Some College103 (9.9%)
Associates13 (1.3%)
Bachelors84 (8.1%)
Graduate Degree128 (12.3%)

Education

HS Grad: 68.4%Some College: 9.9%Associates: 1.3%Bachelors: 8.1%Graduate: 12.3%Edu
HS Grad68.4%
Some College9.9%
Associates1.3%
Bachelors8.1%
Graduate12.3%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 89%Renter: 11%Tenure
Owner89.0%
Renter11.0%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
11%
$50k–$100k
20%
$100k–$150k
5%
$150k–$200k
25%
$200k–$300k
36%
Over $500k
2%

Financials

Median HH Income$39,509 ▼ 48% below avg
Median Home Value$163,200 ▼ 41% below avg
Home/Income Ratio4.1x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$618/mo
Total Housing Units852
Vacant Units236

Income Distribution

Under $25k
39%
$25k–$50k
16%
$50k–$75k
20%
$75k–$100k
5%
$100k–$150k
14%
$150k–$200k
7%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
77%
Work From Home
23%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
17%
15–30 min
50%
30–45 min
5%
Over 45 min
29%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
2%
1940s–1950s
1%
1960s–1970s
21%
1980s–1990s
23%
2000+
53%
About Lester, WV

Lester is a city in West Virginia, located in Raleigh County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 1,431 residents. It is an older city, with a median age of 57.5 years.

Economically, Lester is a lower-income community. The median household income of $39,509 is below the national average. Approximately 34.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 1.1%, well below the national average.

The real estate market in Lester is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $163,200, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $618 per month. Homeownership is high at 89.0%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Lester is less-educated. 20.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average. The community is primarily White (93.15%).

Lester, WV offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within West Virginia.

ZIP Codes in Lester
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
25865 1,431 $39,509 $163,200 $618 1.1% 20.4% 89.0%