| City: | Pax, West Virginia |
| County: | Fayette County |
| Timezone: | Eastern (GMT -05:00) |
| Local Time: | 7:44:43 PM |
| Population: | 675 [See All] |
| Area Codes: | 304 / 681 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 37.9372, -81.2632 |
| Land Area: | 18.776 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Pax is a small community in Fayette County, West Virginia, tucked into the southern coalfields region. With 675 residents and 295 households, it's a place where neighbors know each other and the post office serves as the central mail hub. There's no street delivery here. This is a PO Box Only Zone, meaning residents must pick up their mail at the post office.
The post office maintains 167 PO Boxes for the community's 295 households, giving an adoption rate of about 57%. Since Pax is designated a PO Box Only Zone, every household that wants mail needs a box. The ZIP code itself is a point location enclosed within the larger ZIP 25880, and the post office sits along Main Street.
Pax is a working-class community. Median household income sits at $36,750, and the median home value is $56,000. Mobile homes make up about 31% of the housing stock (98 of 319 units). Homeownership runs high at 80%, with 235 owner-occupied homes compared to 60 rentals. The population skews older with a median age of 43.8 years.
The local economy leans heavily on transportation and logistics. Of the employed residents, roughly half work in transportation, warehousing, or utilities. Three local businesses employ a total of 585 workers, which far exceeds the resident population. This suggests major employers draw workers from surrounding communities.
Mail to Pax requires a PO Box address:
[Name]
PO Box [Number]
Pax, WV 25904Only two streets appear in postal records: Main Street where the post office is located, and Bottom Road.
ZIP Code 25904 has 675 residents and 295 households (average 2.29 persons per household). The median age is 43.8 years, about the same as the state (42.9) and older than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 51.1% male and 48.9% female, which is slightly higher than the national male share (49.1%), making this a male-majority area. Largest groups are White (96.1%, much higher than the national average of 61.6%) and Black or African American (0.4%, much lower than the national average of 12.4%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.3%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 675Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 559Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 36.0 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $39,455Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 295Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $61,100Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 2.29Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 2.70Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 438 | 252 | 298 | 352 | 278 | 337 | 414 | 406 | 353 | 306 | 548 | 486 | 411 | 559 |
| Decennial Census | 365 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 675 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 43.8
Male Median Age: 42.9
Female Median Age: 47.1
| 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 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 23 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 39 | 29 | 21 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| Female | 13 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 14 | 22 | 19 | 13 | 22 | 19 | 36 | 21 | 27 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 4 | 9 |
| Total | 33 | 39 | 39 | 42 | 30 | 45 | 37 | 36 | 47 | 40 | 75 | 50 | 48 | 33 | 32 | 29 | 8 | 12 |
| White: | 649 | 99.24% |
| Black: | 3 | 0.46% |
| Hispanic:* | 2 | 0.31% |
| Asian: | 0 | 0% |
| American Indian: | 0 | 0% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 0 | 0% |
| Total: | 654 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 345 | 51.11% | 42.9 years |
| Females: | 330 | 48.89% | 47.1 years |
| Total: | 675 | 100% | 43.8 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 559 | 100.00% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Population: | 559 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 559 | 100.00% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 0 | 0.00% |
In 2024, the Median household income is $39,455, which is well under the national median ($78,538), is down $48,078 (54.9%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $39,455. Family households earn a median of $79,417 versus $33,065 for nonfamily households (a difference of $46,352). By gender, male median income is $66,176 and female is $34,141, which is considerably lower than the national female median ($53,445), with a current gap of $32,035 that has narrowed from 2011 to 2024. The labor-force participation rate is 39.7%, which is much lower than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 0.0%, which is markedly below the national rate (5.2%). The largest occupation group is Management (43.5%).
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 | $87,533 | $31,250 | $30,982 | $28,507 | $29,338 | $33,594 | $31,250 | $0 | $0 | $16,743 | $23,313 | $45,156 | $36,750 | $39,455 |
| Median Family Income | $88,059 | $41,667 | $32,813 | $29,271 | $33,462 | $0 | $0 | $65,288 | $66,635 | $65,625 | $50,750 | $57,625 | $78,304 | $79,417 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $18,333 | $17,955 | $16,667 | $21,000 | $21,094 | $21,111 | $20,550 | $17,171 | $14,732 | $15,331 | $15,357 | $15,417 | $22,500 | $33,065 |
| Median Male Income | $73,426 | $26,719 | $145,066 | $25,179 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $61,250 | $44,821 | $54,097 | $61,875 | $65,741 | $66,176 |
| Median Female Income | $9,125 | $9,000 | $0 | $13,462 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $87,639 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $33,929 | $34,141 |
| Employed: | 191 | 39.71% |
| Unemployed: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 290 | 60.29% |
| Total: | 481 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 83 | 43.46% |
| Service: | 23 | 12.04% |
| Sales and Office: | 51 | 26.70% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 28 | 14.66% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 6 | 3.14% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 191 | 100% |
In 2024, the median home value is $61,100, which is well under the national median ($303,400), is down $48,800 (44.40%) since 2011 and below its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $32,700. The median gross rent is $0, which is well under the national median ($1,348), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $0. Of occupied housing, owners make up 92.23% (13.33% with a mortgage, 86.67% free-and-clear) and renters 7.77% - making this ZIP Code under national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 25.00%, which is markedly above the national rate (10.43%).
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 | $109,900 | $63,400 | $69,100 | $69,300 | $0 | $156,300 | $0 | $92,300 | $93,800 | $84,500 | $81,100 | $88,100 | $56,000 | $61,100 |
| Less than $500: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $500 to $999: | 15 | 62.50% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $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: | 9 | 37.50% |
| Total: | 24 | 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 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 38 | 12.30% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 247 | 79.94% |
| Renter Occupied: | 24 | 7.77% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 309 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 309 | 75.00% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 103 | 25.00% |
| Total Housing Units: | 412 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 324 | 78.64% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other Units: | 88 | 21.36% |
| Total Housing Units: | 412 | 100% |
In 2024, 1.90% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is far lower than the national rate (35.00%). High school or higher is 74.00%, which is comparable to the national rate (89.40%). The uninsured rate is 7.00%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.60%). The share of people in poverty is 5.80%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.70%), up 16.50 percentage points since 2011 and below its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 0.40 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 elementary (46.72%). College enrollment is 26.23%, 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: | 7 | 1.64% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 104 | 24.36% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 165 | 38.64% |
| Some college, no degree: | 101 | 23.65% |
| Associate's degree: | 42 | 9.84% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 7 | 1.64% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 1 | 0.23% |
| Total: | 427 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 316 | 74.00% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 8 | 1.87% |
| Private Insurance: | 368 | 56.53% |
| Public Insurance: | 244 | 37.48% |
| No Insurance: | 39 | 5.99% |
| Total: | 651 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 612 | 94.01% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 3.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 10.2% | 12.6% | 20.2% | 26.9% | 33.5% | 33.6% | 19.8% | 5.8% |
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: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 57 | 46.72% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 33 | 27.05% |
| College or graduate school: | 32 | 26.23% |
| Total: | 122 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 0 | 0.00% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 90 | 73.77% |
ZIP Code 25904 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 4 business establishments, employing about 617 people with an annual payroll of $66,389,000.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 178Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 4Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $16,627,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $66,389,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 617Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 25904 is located in Fayette County, West Virginia, within the Beckley, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 13220) and West Virginia's 1st Congressional District. This Metro area has a population of 78,859 people, about 0.86% of whom live in ZIP Code 25904. It covers 18.776 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.017 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Beckley, WVSource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 13220Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MetroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 78,859Source: Census |
| MSA: | Source: Census |
| Land Area: | 18.776 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.017 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: | 5462356Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Pax town; West VirginiaSource: Census |
We could not locate which school district 25904 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.