Wheeling, WV · standard
ZIP Code 26003
Ohio County, West Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 43,002
- 175/sq mi High-density area
- $57,703
- Median income Below-median income area
- $166,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 34.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wheeling pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 25th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 33rd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 175
- people per sq mi
- 68%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 26003 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 26003 (Wheeling, WV) rose +4.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 185.8 in 2023 to 193.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 26003 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, with 43,002 residents across 245.4 square miles, a density of 175 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 26003 reports a modest median household income of $57,703 (0% below the average West Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,424. The poverty rate is 17.0%, with unemployment at 5.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $166,100 (20% above the average West Virginia ZIP), while 67.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $818.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.7, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 more in Ohio County, so 26003 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 26003
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wheeling, WV
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 26003.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
225 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
160 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
142 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
135 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
107 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 26003, Wheeling, WV · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
43,002
Population
245.4
Area (sq mi)
175
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 26003?
44.7
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
2.3%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$57,703
Median Household Income
-0% vs state ZIP avg
$38,424
Per Capita Income
17.0%
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
20.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 26003 ranks nationally
Wheeling, WV household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$57,703 25th percentile higher than 25% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
20,670housing units
20,670
Total Housing Units
18,151
Occupied Units
2,519
Vacant Units
2.14
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$166,100
Median Home Value
+20% vs state ZIP avg
$818
Median Rent
1956
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+4.2%
YoY Change (2024)
194
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+94%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 26003 have increased 4.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +94% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.9% | 154 |
| 2021 | +4.3% | 161 |
| 2022 | +11.8% | 180 |
| 2023 | +3.1% | 186 |
| 2024 | +4.2% | 194 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,181 business establishments in ZIP 26003, employing approximately 19,157 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,033,460,000.
1,181
Businesses
19,157
Employees
$1.0B
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 225 | 19.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 160 | 13.6% |
| Retail trade | 142 | 12.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 135 | 11.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 107 | 9.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 66 | 5.6% |
| Construction | 59 | 5.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 52 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 49 | 4.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 47 | 4.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 35 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 30 | 2.5% |
| Information | 17 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 17 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 16 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 1.3% |
| Utilities | 5 | 0.4% |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 3 | 0.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 26003 vs 26059 →
ZIP 26003 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 26003
Wheeling (26003)
43,002 residents
- 43935 8,943
Martins Ferry (43935)
8,943 residents
- 26059 3,082
Triadelphia (26059)
3,082 residents
- 26040 2,103
Mcmechen (26040)
2,103 residents
- 26060 1,881
Valley Grove (26060)
1,881 residents
- 26031 1,755
Benwood (26031)
1,755 residents
- 43963 1,362
Tiltonsville (43963)
1,362 residents
- 26074 1,184
West Liberty (26074)
1,184 residents
- 43971 1,150
Yorkville (43971)
1,150 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 26003 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 26003 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 26060
Valley Grove (26060)
$69,716 median income
- 26059
Triadelphia (26059)
$67,094 median income
- 26003
Wheeling (26003)
$57,703 median income
- 43963
Tiltonsville (43963)
$56,813 median income
- 26075
Windsor Heights (26075)
$53,750 median income
- 26074
West Liberty (26074)
$50,000 median income
- 43971
Yorkville (43971)
$49,327 median income
- 26031
Benwood (26031)
$46,797 median income
- 43935
Martins Ferry (43935)
$45,923 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 26003 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26059 | Triadelphia, WV | 3,082 | 3.1 mi |
| 26075 | Windsor Heights, WV | 505 | 8.4 mi |
| 26060 | Valley Grove, WV | 1,881 | 5.8 mi |
| 26031 | Benwood, WV | 1,755 | 5.9 mi |
| 43934 | Lansing, OH | 295 | 7.4 mi |
| 43963 | Tiltonsville, OH | 1,362 | 7.2 mi |
| 26074 | West Liberty, WV | 1,184 | 6.8 mi |
| 43971 | Yorkville, OH | 1,150 | 6.7 mi |
| 43935 | Martins Ferry, OH | 8,943 | 6.4 mi |
| 26040 | Mcmechen, WV | 2,103 | 7.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 26003, both outside WV so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (43,002 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Ohio County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 26003 in?
ZIP code 26003 (Wheeling) is located in Ohio County, West Virginia. Ohio County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/ohio-wv.
What is the population of ZIP code 26003?
ZIP code 26003 in Wheeling, WV has a population of 43,002 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 26003?
The median household income in ZIP 26003 is $57,703, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 26003?
The median home value in ZIP 26003 is $166,100, which is 40% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 26003?
The largest racial group in ZIP 26003 is White at 90.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 26003?
ZIP code 26003 has 1,181 business establishments employing approximately 19,157 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 26003?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 26003 are: Health care and social assistance (225), Other services (except public administration) (160), Retail trade (142). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 26003?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 26003 increased by 4.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 94%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 26003?
In ZIP code 26003, 65.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 26003?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 26003 is 20.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 26003?
In ZIP code 26003, approximately 67.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 26003?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 26003 is 17.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 26003's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 26003 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Wheeling, WV ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.