Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US metro and micro areas.

Safety47#486/924
Economy21#735/925
Housing61#361/925
Health15#789/925
Healthcare67#305/923
Environment27#667/917
Education50#465/925
Infrastructure35#605/925
Community46#499/925
Leisure & amenities87#123/925

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Wheeling, WV-OH metro area ranks highest and lowest among US metro and micro areas (score = percentile, 100 = best).

Strengths

Cost of buying a home today · low20.2%
98/100West Virginia 21.2%United States 34.1%Aug 2026Zillow Research
Severe housing problems · low8.6%
98/100West Virginia 11.1%United States 16.8%2017-2021University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Arts, entertainment and recreation · high8.4 /10k
93/100West Virginia 5.9 /10kUnited States 5.5 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAggregated from counties
Social associations · high15.4 /10k
89/100West Virginia 12.5 /10kUnited States 9.1 /10k2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Gyms and fitness centers · high1.6 /10k
89/100West Virginia 0.8 /10kUnited States 1.3 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsAggregated from counties
Traffic deaths · low8.9 /100k
87/100West Virginia 15.0 /100kUnited States 12.3 /100k2020-2024National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationAggregated from counties

Weaknesses

Preventable hospital stays · high5,153 /100k
1/100West Virginia 4,063 /100kUnited States 2,769 /100k2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
New homes permitted · low0.0 /1k
2/100West Virginia 2.2 /1kUnited States 4.2 /1kSep 2025–Aug 2026U.S. Census BureauProvisional data
Frequent mental distress · high21.2%
4/100West Virginia 23.4%United States 18.6%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Depression · high29.5%
6/100West Virginia 31.9%United States 20.7%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
New business applications · low8.1 /1k
10/100West Virginia 9.3 /1kUnited States 16.6 /1k2025U.S. Census BureauAggregated from counties
Child care cost burden · high38.8%
10/100West Virginia 35.5%United States 27.9%2023 & 2024University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

New homes permittedWorsening
0.7 /1k (2021) → 0.0 /1k (Sep 2025–Aug 2026)
−96%5 yearsUS 5.2 /1k → 4.2 /1k
Broadband subscriptionsImproving
72.8% (2015-2019) → 86.1% (2020-2024)
+13 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Drug overdose deathsImproving
47.1 /100k (2021) → 21.5 /100k (Mar 2025–Feb 2026)
−54%5 yearsUS 30.8 /100k → 18.4 /100k
New business applicationsImproving
5.3 /1k (2020) → 8.1 /1k (2025)
+52%5 yearsUS 13.1 /1k → 16.6 /1k
Mammography screeningImproving
40.6% (2019) → 50.3% (2023)
+9.7 pts4 yearsUS 43.0% → 46.0%
Access to exercise opportunitiesImproving
55.7% (2010 & 2021) → 65.1% (2022 & 2024)
+9.4 pts3 yearsUS 79.8% → 84.5%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Wheeling, WV-OH metro area improved on 14 of 32 measures with a comparison and declined on 10. 6 moved within the margin of error and 2 barely changed.

Earlier period
Latest period
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among metro and micro areas: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts. Periods differ by measure (most compare 2015-2019 with 2020-2024); each row names its own in its tooltip and in the table.

Improved14

Gyms+43%1.2 /10k → 1.6 /10k
Broadband+13 points72.8% → 86.1%
Traffic deaths−22%11.4 /100k → 8.9 /100k
Unemployment−4.7 points9.6% → 4.9%
Overdose deaths−61%54.6 /100k → 21.5 /100k

Declined10

Child poverty+8.4 points16.1% → 24.4%
Firearm deaths+71%11.9 /100k → 20.4 /100k
Poverty+3.7 points12.9% → 16.6%
Homicides+50%1.9 /100k → 2.8 /100k
Grocery stores−30%2.0 /10k → 1.4 /10k

All 32 measures

Change of every measure of Wheeling, WV-OH metro area between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Arts, entertainment and recreation	6.8 /10k2020	8.4 /10k2025	+23%	Improved	79%
Average commute time	23.6 min2015-2019	23.7 min2020-2024	+0.1 min	Within the margin of error	60%
Average weekly wage	$9152020	$1,1092025	+21%	Improved	32%
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.4%2015-2019	23.7%2020-2024	+2.3 points	Improved	38%
Broadband subscriptions	72.8%2015-2019	86.1%2020-2024	+13 points	Improved	85%
Child poverty rate	16.1%2015-2019	24.4%2020-2024	+8.4 points	Declined	1%
Distance to an airport	44 mi2020	44 mi2025	+0 mi	Little change	14%
Drug overdose deaths	54.6 /100k2020	21.5 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026	−61%	Improved	91%
Effective property tax rate	0.77%2015-2019	0.77%2020-2024	+0 points	Within the margin of error	8%
Firearm deaths	11.9 /100k2020	20.4 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	+71%	Declined	5%
Grocery stores	2.0 /10k2020	1.4 /10k2025	−30%	Declined	3%
Gyms and fitness centers	1.2 /10k2020	1.6 /10k2025	+43%	Improved	86%
High school diploma or higher	91.6%2015-2019	92.4%2020-2024	+0.8 points	Within the margin of error	22%
Home price to income ratio	2.2×2015-2019	2.7×2020-2024	+0.6×	Declined	37%
Homicide rate	1.9 /100k2020	2.8 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	+50%	Declined	5%
Income adjusted for local prices	$54,0792019	$67,1162024	+24%	Improved	6%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.4712015-2019	0.4672020-2024	−0.004	Within the margin of error	66%
Median household income	$50,3902015-2019	$57,4182020-2024	+14%	Improved	4%
New business applications	5.3 /1k2020	8.1 /1k2025	+52%	Improved	59%
Pharmacies	2.6 /10k2020	2.2 /10k2025	−16%	Declined	29%
Poverty rate	12.9%2015-2019	16.6%2020-2024	+3.7 points	Declined	2%
Property crime rate	971 /100k2020	853 /100k2025	−12%	Improved	14%
Public libraries	1.0 /10k2019	1.0 /10k2024	+3.1%	Little change	81%
Public transit commuters	0.6%2015-2019	0.5%2020-2024	−0.1 points	Within the margin of error	71%
Rent as share of income	27.7%2015-2019	30.6%2020-2024	+2.9 points	Declined	12%
Rent-burdened households	44.3%2015-2019	50.9%2020-2024	+6.6 points	Declined	11%
Restaurants and bars	9.4 /10k2020	10.4 /10k2025	+11%	Improved	81%
Suicide rate	17.0 /100k2020	22.7 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	+33%	Declined	14%
Traffic deaths	11.4 /100k2015-2019	8.9 /100k2020-2024	−22%	Improved	90%
Unemployment rate	9.6%2020	4.9%2025	−4.7 points	Improved	90%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	6.8%2015-2019	7.0%2020-2024	+0.2 points	Within the margin of error	37%
Violent crime rate	440 /100k2020	376 /100k2025	−14%	Improved	47%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 708 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: Regional Economic Accounts; Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; Mapping Injury, Overdose, and Violence; American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; Business Formation Statistics; Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master files; Public Libraries Survey; Fatality Analysis Reporting System; Distance to airports and intercity rail. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 925 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Metro and micro areas like Wheeling, WV-OH metro area five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Wheeling, WV-OH metro area in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Wheeling, WV-OH metro area itself moved −9.8 points in standing on average over the same 30 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

136,920 residents

Men
Women

80 and over
70–79
60–69

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

58,024 households (±724)

Wheeling, WV-OH metro area
United States share

Under $25k21%12,259
$25k–50k23%13,384
$50k–75k17%9,830

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

58,024 households (±724)

Wheeling, WV-OH metro area
United States share

Own72%41,990
Rent28%16,034

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Own (−2.8 points).

Table view

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

58,836 workers (±992)

Wheeling, WV-OH metro area
United States share

Drive alone81%47,914
Carpool7.6%4,447
Public transit0.5%†322

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The 10 largest occupations in Wheeling, WV-OH employ 13,960 people. 10 pay a median below the US median.

Above the US median
Below the US median

The largest occupations in Wheeling, WV-OH by employment, with median annual pay and how it compares with the United States
Occupation	Jobs	Median pay	vs USCompared with the US	Concentration
Retail Salespersons1,960 jobs	1,960	$29,370US $35,410	−17%	1.34×
Cashiers1,710 jobs	1,710	$27,500US $32,880	−16%	1.48×
Registered Nurses1,680 jobs	1,680	$78,280US $97,550	−20%	1.33×
General and Operations Managers1,510 jobs	1,510	$80,440US $105,770	−24%	1.15×
Stockers and Order Fillers1,470 jobs	1,470	$35,020US $37,330	−6%	1.39×
Fast Food and Counter Workers1,300 jobs	1,300	$26,150US $31,200	−16%	0.9×
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1,210 jobs	1,210	$57,590US $58,640	−2%	1.57×
Home Health and Personal Care Aides1,190 jobs	1,190	$29,190US $35,800	−18%	0.74×
Customer Service Representatives990 jobs	990	$38,440US $44,770	−14%	1.02×
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand940 jobs	940	$38,150US $40,240	−5%	0.85×

Look up any occupation

Search more than 800 occupations and see what they pay in Wheeling, WV-OH.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025-05 (all industries and ownerships) bls.gov/oes

Reference period: 2025-05. BLS publishes metro areas, states and the nation (not counties or cities), so a county or city page shows its metro area.
Pay is not adjusted for the cost of living, so a higher median does not mean more purchasing power.
BLS caps the highest wages it publishes: where a figure is shown as “or more”, the real value is at least that much.
Some occupations (teachers, performers) are published by the hour or school year and shown here as an annual figure.

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

Wheeling, WV-OH has 3,180 employer establishments, 234 for every 10,000 residents (0.94× the US rate of 248), with 51,417 paid employees at an average annual pay of $51,563. The Census Bureau also counts 7,232 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 3,180; 7,232 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 234; US 248
Paid employees: 51,417
Average annual pay: $51,563; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Wheeling, WV-OH by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Ambulatory health care services	269	19.8	0.95×About typical	2,676	$63,688	349
Restaurants and other eating places	246	18.1	0.99×About typical	5,021	$18,476	30
Religious organizations	123	9.1	1.63×More than typical	749	$26,565	—
Limited-service restaurants	122	9	1.12×About typical	2,473	$16,762	21
Specialty trade contractors	116	8.5	0.55×Fewer than typical	1,225	$63,854	483
Full-service restaurants	95	7	0.91×About typical	2,298	$19,901	7
Lessors of real estate	93	6.9	0.56×Fewer than typical	384	$37,703	857
Offices of physicians	93	6.9	1.06×About typical	667	$115,559	61
Legal services	85	6.3	1.16×About typical	794	$104,943	89
Gasoline stations	75	5.5	1.70×More than typical	741	$31,709	—
Offices of other health practitioners	71	5.2	0.86×About typical	569	$36,373	162
Banks and credit unions	65	4.8	1.48×More than typical	1,180	$77,335	—

Rank places for an industry

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 135,690 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
A metro area's figures are the exact sums of its counties.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contract spending

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $13M on contracts performed in Wheeling, WV-OH metro area: $97.15 per resident (US $1,995).

Obligations: $13M; +293% vs FY2025
Per resident: $97.15; US $1,995
Sole-source: 21%; US 30%
Single offer: 1.2%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Department of Veterans Affairs$4.1M31%
Public Buildings Service$3.1M24%
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management$2.8M22%
Department of the Army$2.4M18%
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services$495.5K3.8%
Offices, Boards and Divisions$126.2K1.0%
Environmental Protection Agency$5,1810.0%
Defense Logistics Agency$85.000.0%

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

5.1MFY2017
10.1MFY2018
7.4MFY2019
11MFY2020
9.5MFY2021
11.5MFY2022
7.4MFY2023
7.2M

Top industries (NAICS)

Plastics product manufacturing · 3261$4.1M31%
Nonresidential building construction · 2362$2.6M20%
Other specialty trade contractors · 2389$2.3M17%
Facilities support services · 5612$2.1M16%
Other heavy and civil engineering construction · 2379$495.5K3.8%
Building equipment contractors · 2382

Largest awards

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT$8.9M
TOUCHSTONE RESEARCH LABORATORY, LTD.· Ohio County, WV· Research & development· Mar 2, 2023 – Dec 4, 2025· N6833523C0034
EO14042-SBIR/STTR PHASE II R&D$3M
TOUCHSTONE RESEARCH LABORATORY, LTD.· Ohio County, WV· Research & development· Jan 28, 2022 – Dec 8, 2025· HQ086022C7102
FACILITIES SUPPORT SERVICES - MSHA APPROVAL & CERTIFICATION CENTER, TRIADELPHIA, WV$2.9M
ACTION FACILITIES MANAGEMENT INC· Ohio County, WV· Facilities & utilities· Mar 16, 2023 – Aug 18, 2026· 1605C423F00010
AWARD OF THE WHEELING COURTHOUSE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROJECT TO ARK CONSTRUCTION, WORK TO BE PERFORMED IN WHEELING, WV.

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 6, 2026, loaded Oct 6, 2026.

Federal grants & assistance

Grants, loans (counted at their subsidy cost), direct payments and insurance, by fiscal year of the action (USAspending.gov, FABS). Reported apart from contracts and never added to them.

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $1.3B in grants, loans, direct payments and insurance for Wheeling, WV-OH metro area: $9,394 per resident (US $12,957).

Assistance · FY2026: $1.3B; +4.6% vs FY2025
Per resident: $9,394; US $12,957
Loan face value: $36.1M; lent or guaranteed
To individuals: 0.3%; counted, never named

Top programs

96.002 · Social Security Retirement Insurance$598M47%
93.774 · Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance$115.8M9.2%
96.001 · Social Security Disability Insurance$76.6M6.1%
93.773 · Medicare Hospital Insurance$73.8M5.9%
96.004 · Social Security Survivors Insurance$73.3M5.8%
64.109 · Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability$62.7M5.0%
81.089 · Fossil Energy Research and Development$51M4.0%
93.770 · Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage$38.5M3.1%

Top recipients (organizations)

WHEELING POWER CO$51M4.0%
COLUMBUS, OH
WVDOT DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS$38.4M3.0%
CHARLESTON, WV
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$23.2M1.8%
COLUMBUS, OH
NORTHERN PANHANDLE HEAD START, INC$7.3M0.6%
WHEELING, WV
WHEELING HOUSING AUTHORITY$6.5M

Organizations only: awards to individuals and county aggregate records count in the totals but are never listed. Grants to state governments recorded at the agency's own address are counted statewide, not in the capital's county.

Top agencies

Social Security Administration$777.6M62%
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services$228.1M18%
Department of Health and Human Services
Under Secretary for Benefits/Veterans Benefits Administration$73.5M5.8%
Department of Veterans Affairs
Federal Highway Administration$61.6M4.9%
Department of Transportation
Department of Energy

Assistance by fiscal year

1.1BFY2021
1BFY2022
1.1BFY2023
1.1BFY2024
1.2BFY2025
1.3BFY2026

County aggregates

86%

Share of obligations reported only as county totals of many small awards (for example Social Security or Medicare payments), with no recipient named.

Source: Federal financial assistance transactions (Financial Assistance Broker Submission) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 6, 2026, loaded Oct 6, 2026 · FY2021–FY2026.

Counties in Wheeling, WV-OH

Whole counties, as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget delineates the area. Federal spending below is the exact sum of these counties.

States

The share of the area's residents living in each state.

Principal cities

The cities the area is named for.

WheelingPrincipal city26,350

Largest cities and towns

By population, for places with most of their residents in the area.

Other metro and micro areas in West Virginia

Areas based in West Virginia, best score first.

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Places that share a border, best score first.

Similar metro and micro areas

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

Mapping Injury, Overdose, and ViolenceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2026-10-01
PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Daily county PM2.5 and ozone (EPA downscaler model)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2022
Care Compare: Hospital General Information and Timely and Effective CareCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services · release 2026-07-22
Distance to airports and intercity railFederal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census Bureau · release 2025+amtrak-2026-04-23
Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master filesFederal Bureau of Investigation · release 2025
Public Libraries SurveyInstitute of Museum and Library Services · release FY2024
U.S. Drought Monitor county statisticsNational Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), USDA and NOAA · release 2026-09-29
Fatality Analysis Reporting SystemNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration · release 2024
nClimGrid-Daily county averagesNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · release 2025
Regional Economic AccountsU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · release 2024
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2026 Q1
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Business Formation StatisticsU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-10-01
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Alternative Fuels Data Center station locatorU.S. Department of Energy · release 2026-10
Election Administration and Voting SurveyU.S. Election Assistance Commission · release 2024
Air Quality Index Annual Summary by CountyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2025
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement
Zillow Home Value Index, Observed Rent Index and affordabilityZillow Research · release 2026-08

JSON · /api/v1/places/M48540

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends

What changed in five years

Improved14

Declined10

Metro and micro areas like Wheeling, WV-OH metro area five years ago that improved

Who lives here

Age and sex

Income

Household income

Homes

Owners and renters

Getting to work

How people get to work

Jobs and pay

Look up any occupation

Local businesses

Federal contract spending

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

Federal grants & assistance

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

Counties in Wheeling, WV-OH

States

Principal cities

Largest cities and towns

Other metro and micro areas in West Virginia

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Similar metro and micro areas

Data and sources

Improved14

Declined10

Age and sex

Household income

Owners and renters

How people get to work

Race and Hispanic origin

Education

Rent paid

Home values

Age of homes

Size of homes

Time to get to work

Look up any occupation

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

By type

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

What was bought