| City: | Varney, West Virginia |
| County: | Mingo County |
| Timezone: | Eastern (GMT -05:00) |
| Local Time: | 7:42:30 PM |
| Population: | 1,290 [See All] |
| Area Codes: | 304 / 681 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 37.6696, -82.1241 |
| Land Area: | 20.07 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Varney sits in the heart of Mingo County, West Virginia, deep in the Appalachian coalfields along the Kentucky border. This is a PO Box Only Zone. There's no street delivery available, so every household picks up mail at the Varney post office. The community has 157 PO Boxes serving 530 households, meaning about 30% of homes have their own box while others share or use nearby facilities.
The 1,290 residents here are almost entirely White (96%). Median age is 41.9 years, and households average 2.4 people. Only 5.6% hold a bachelor's degree, well below national averages. This is a working-class community where transportation and warehousing employs more people than any other sector.
Housing tells the Appalachian story. Of 614 housing units, 238 are mobile homes, nearly 40% of the total. Median home value is $77,500, and median rent runs $815 per month. Homeownership is high at 79% (418 of 530 occupied units).
Varney doesn't have its own geographic boundary. It's a point location enclosed within ZIP 25670 (Matewan). The only street in the ZIP+4 database is RA West Highway. With zero business establishments recorded and no city carrier delivery, mail service depends entirely on the small post office that anchors this hollow.
Only one street appears in the database: RA West Highway, reflecting the rural highway geography of Mingo County.
ZIP Code 25696 has 1,290 residents and 530 households (average 2.43 persons per household). The median age is 41.9 years, slightly younger than the state (42.9) and older than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 49.6% male and 50.4% female, which is about the same as the national male share (49.1%). Largest groups are White (96.4%, much higher than the national average of 61.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (0.8%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.8%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 1,290Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 1,241Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 64.3 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $48,077Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 530Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $109,400Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 2.43Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 2.81Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 0 | 88 | 93 | 144 | 143 | 247 | 194 | 185 | 168 | 249 | 1,238 | 1,382 | 1,382 | 1,241 |
| Decennial Census | 295 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,290 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 41.9
Male Median Age: 41.3
Female Median Age: 42.3
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 29 | 54 | 29 | 39 | 38 | 44 | 21 | 54 | 40 | 40 | 58 | 25 | 43 | 43 | 49 | 14 | 15 | 5 |
| Female | 23 | 29 | 55 | 30 | 26 | 45 | 35 | 60 | 40 | 35 | 51 | 23 | 43 | 64 | 46 | 24 | 11 | 10 |
| Total | 52 | 83 | 84 | 69 | 64 | 89 | 56 | 114 | 80 | 75 | 109 | 48 | 86 | 107 | 95 | 38 | 26 | 15 |
| White: | 1,243 | 98.73% |
| Black: | 1 | 0.08% |
| Hispanic:* | 10 | 0.79% |
| Asian: | 0 | 0% |
| American Indian: | 0 | 0% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 5 | 0.40% |
| Total: | 1,259 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 640 | 49.61% | 41.3 years |
| Females: | 650 | 50.39% | 42.3 years |
| Total: | 1,290 | 100% | 41.9 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 1,223 | 98.55% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 1 | 0.08% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 17 | 1.37% |
| Total Population: | 1,241 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 1,224 | 98.63% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 17 | 1.37% |
In 2024, the Median household income is $48,077, which is considerably lower than the national median ($80,734), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $6,827. Family households earn a median of $54,583 versus $0 for nonfamily households (a difference of $54,583). By gender, male median income is $84,038 and female is $35,985, which is far less than the national female median ($55,274), with a current gap of $48,053 that has widened from 2011 to 2024. The labor-force participation rate is 53.2%, which is much lower than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 23.9%, which is far worse than the national rate (5.2%). The largest occupation group is Natural resources (28.2%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $0 | $42,083 | $0 | $48,182 | $48,125 | $40,417 | $38,684 | $41,196 | $41,250 | $44,896 | $38,071 | $42,196 | $54,250 | $48,077 |
| Median Family Income | $0 | $42,083 | $0 | $48,182 | $48,125 | $42,813 | $42,045 | $43,750 | $44,318 | $65,208 | $47,325 | $52,292 | $58,556 | $54,583 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $14,243 | $14,082 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Male Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $39,464 | $75,833 | $93,870 | $84,038 |
| Median Female Income | $0 | $22,083 | $0 | $20,982 | $0 | $20,547 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $30,430 | $33,659 | $0 | $35,985 |
| Employed: | 408 | 40.52% |
| Unemployed: | 128 | 12.71% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 471 | 46.77% |
| Total: | 1,007 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 94 | 23.04% |
| Service: | 39 | 9.56% |
| Sales and Office: | 66 | 16.18% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 115 | 28.19% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 94 | 23.04% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 408 | 100% |
In 2024, the median home value is $109,400, which is much lower than the national median ($332,700), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $43,600. The median gross rent is $826, which is much lower than the national median ($1,413), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $826. Of occupied housing, owners make up 74.90% (16.11% with a mortgage, 83.89% free-and-clear) and renters 25.10% - making this ZIP Code under national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 13.00%, which is considerably higher than the national rate (10.12%).
Explore More:Compare Home ValueHome Value Over TimeRent & Over TimeHousing Occupancy
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $0 | $30,800 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $65,000 | $68,200 | $68,000 | $65,800 | $64,800 | $87,800 | $91,000 | $77,500 | $109,400 |
| Less than $500: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $500 to $999: | 99 | 75.57% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 21 | 16.03% |
| $1,500 to $1,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,000 to $2,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,500 to $2,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $3,000 or more: | 0 | 0.00% |
| No Rent: | 11 | 8.40% |
| Total: | 131 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $578 | $664 | $815 | $826 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 63 | 12.07% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 328 | 62.84% |
| Renter Occupied: | 131 | 25.10% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 522 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 522 | 87.00% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 78 | 13.00% |
| Total Housing Units: | 600 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 389 | 64.83% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other Units: | 211 | 35.17% |
| Total Housing Units: | 600 | 100% |
In 2024, 4.60% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is far lower than the national rate (35.70%). High school or higher is 89.60%, which is comparable to the national rate (89.60%). The uninsured rate is 7.40%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.40%). Private coverage is 35.10%, which is falls below the national rate (67.10%). Public coverage is 58.30%, which is far higher than the national rate (36.70%). The share of people in poverty is 23.10%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.80%), up 19.50 percentage points since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 19.50 percentage points. This signals a sharp increase in hardship - a shrinking consumer base, heavy pressure on public services, and job-market contraction risks. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is kindergarten (30.43%). College enrollment is 24.90%, which is comparable to the national rate (26.70%), meaning the community mirrors broader higher-education participation.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 39 | 4.17% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 58 | 6.20% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 419 | 44.81% |
| Some college, no degree: | 246 | 26.31% |
| Associate's degree: | 130 | 13.90% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 32 | 3.42% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 11 | 1.18% |
| Total: | 935 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 838 | 89.63% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 43 | 4.60% |
| Private Insurance: | 435 | 34.80% |
| Public Insurance: | 723 | 57.84% |
| No Insurance: | 92 | 7.36% |
| Total: | 1,250 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 1,158 | 92.64% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 17.8% | 26.2% | 19.5% | 23.1% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 38 | 15.02% |
| Kindergarten: | 77 | 30.43% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 75 | 29.64% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 0 | 0.00% |
| College or graduate school: | 63 | 24.90% |
| Total: | 253 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 115 | 45.45% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 152 | 60.08% |
ZIP Code 25696 is designated for PO Box delivery only; business establishment and employment data are not available.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 170Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 0Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $0Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $0Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 0Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 25696 is located in Mingo County, West Virginia, within the Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA ) and West Virginia's 1st Congressional District. This area has a population of 0 people, about 0.00% of whom live in ZIP Code 25696. It covers 20.07 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.009 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Number: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 0Source: Census |
| MSA: | Source: Census |
| Land Area: | 20.07 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.009 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 01Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 6275.56 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | --Source: Census |
| Place Name: | --Source: Census |
We could not locate which school district 25696 belongs to, but we will update this once new district data is released. There are no public schools nor private schools with a mailing address in this ZIP Code. Listing Nearby schools instead. It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on February 1, 2026.