Cowen, WV · standard
ZIP Code 26206
Webster County, West Virginia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,976
- 16/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $44,042
- Median income Below-median income area
- $78,400
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 8.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Cowen pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 8th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 4th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 16
- people per sq mi
- 75%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 26206 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 26206 covers 190.8 square miles in Cowen, Webster County, West Virginia (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,976 residents on file, a density of 16 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 26206 reports a modest median household income of $44,042 (24% below the average West Virginia ZIP), while per-capita income is $23,416. The poverty rate is 24.7%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $78,400 (43% below the average West Virginia ZIP), and median rent is $699; owner occupancy is 74.8%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 8.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.2, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Webster County, so 26206 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 26206
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Cowen, WV
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 26206.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
6 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
4 establishments
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
3 establishments
- Construction
Construction
3 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
3 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 26206, Cowen, 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
2,976
Population
190.8
Area (sq mi)
16
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 26206?
45.2
Median Age
52.2%
Male
47.8%
Female
0.0%
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?
$44,042
Median Household Income
-24% vs state ZIP avg
$23,416
Per Capita Income
24.7%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 26206 ranks among West Virginia ZIPs
Cowen, WV household income vs. every West Virginia ZIP code
Median household income among 539 reporting West Virginia ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$44,042 26th percentile higher than 26% of 539 West Virginia ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more West Virginia 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
1,214housing units
1,214
Total Housing Units
965
Occupied Units
249
Vacant Units
2.85
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$78,400
Median Home Value
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$699
Median Rent
1976
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 31 business establishments in ZIP 26206, employing approximately 320 people with a combined annual payroll of $9,851,000.
31
Businesses
320
Employees
$9.9M
Annual Payroll
7
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 6 | 19.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 4 | 12.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 9.7% |
| Construction | 3 | 9.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 9.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 3 | 9.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 9.7% |
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 26206 vs 26266 →
ZIP 26206 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 26205
Craigsville (26205)
3,690 residents
- 26206
Cowen (26206)
2,976 residents
- 26208 973
Camden On Gauley (26208)
973 residents
- 26691 417
Tioga (26691)
417 residents
- 26266 252
Upperglade (26266)
252 residents
- 26203 198
Erbacon (26203)
198 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 26206 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 26206 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 26691
Tioga (26691)
$85,420 median income
- 26208
Camden On Gauley (26208)
$49,922 median income
- 26206
Cowen (26206)
$44,042 median income
- 26205
Craigsville (26205)
$37,378 median income
- 26203 $26,343
Erbacon (26203)
$26,343 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 26206 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 26206, 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 (2,976 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Webster County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 26206 in?
ZIP code 26206 (Cowen) is located in Webster County, West Virginia. Webster County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/webster-wv.
What is the population of ZIP code 26206?
ZIP code 26206 in Cowen, WV has a population of 2,976 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 26206?
The median household income in ZIP 26206 is $44,042, which is 42% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 26206?
The median home value in ZIP 26206 is $78,400, which is 72% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 26206?
The largest racial group in ZIP 26206 is White at 90.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 26206?
ZIP code 26206 has 31 business establishments employing approximately 320 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 26206?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 26206 are: Retail trade (6), Health care and social assistance (4), Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (3). There are 7 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 26206?
In ZIP code 26206, 62.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 8.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 26206?
In ZIP code 26206, approximately 74.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 26206?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 26206 is 24.7% 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 26206's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 26206 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Cowen, 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.