| City: | Carolina, West Virginia |
| County: | Marion County |
| Timezone: | Eastern (GMT -05:00) |
| Local Time: | 8:20:41 PM |
| Population: | 380 [See All] |
| Area Codes: | 304 / 681 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 39.4775, -80.2715 |
| Land Area: | 0.711 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Carolina is a small town in Marion County, West Virginia, tucked into the Appalachian hills about 18 miles south of Morgantown. With just 380 residents and 148 households, it's the kind of place where the post office serves as more than a mail stop. The Carolina post office maintains 161 PO Boxes for those 148 households. That's a 109% adoption rate, meaning some residents have multiple boxes and folks from surrounding rural areas rely on this facility too.
This ZIP is classified as a PO Box Only Zone, which means there's no alternative mail delivery available through another ZIP code. Yet Carolina does have some street delivery: one city carrier route and one rural route operate here. The numbered street grid (2nd through 8th Street, plus Main Street) tells the story of a traditional small town laid out in the early 20th century.
Carolina shows the hallmarks of Appalachian coal country. Median household income sits at $19,188, well below the national average. Per capita income is just under $16,000. Home values average $80,500, and more than half the housing stock was built before 1939. The 47 transportation workers among the employed population suggest some connection to trucking or logistics, and 36 residents carpool to work.
Ownership runs high here: 118 of 148 occupied homes are owner-occupied. That's 80% homeownership, common in communities where families have held property for generations. The median age of 41.4 and small under-18 population (just 9 children) point to an aging community. At 21.5%, the bachelor's degree rate is modest, and every resident was born in the United States.
Classic small-town layout with numbered streets and a central Main Street.
ZIP Code 26563 has 380 residents and 148 households (average 2.57 persons per household). The median age is 41.4 years, slightly younger than the state (42.9) and slightly older than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 48.4% male and 51.6% female, which is slightly lower than the state male share (49.6%), making this a female-majority area. Largest groups are White (80.8%, much lower than the state average of 89.8% and well above the national average of 61.6%) and Black or African American (10.8%, much higher than the state average of 3.7%); 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: | 380Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 188Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 534.5 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $19,188Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 148Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $80,500Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 2.57Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 2.78Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 390 | 461 | 318 | 284 | 304 | 487 | 436 | 550 | 437 | 306 | 277 | 237 | 188 |
| Decennial Census | 381 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 380 | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 41.4
Male Median Age: 37.8
Female Median Age: 47.3
| 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 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 4 | 14 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Female | 15 | 8 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 12 | 24 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
| Total | 24 | 15 | 34 | 32 | 16 | 10 | 25 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 27 | 22 | 40 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 6 |
| White: | 307 | 86.97% |
| Black: | 41 | 11.61% |
| Hispanic:* | 3 | 0.85% |
| Asian: | 0 | 0% |
| American Indian: | 0 | 0% |
| Hawaiian: | 2 | 0.57% |
| Other: | 0 | 0% |
| Total: | 353 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 184 | 48.42% | 37.8 years |
| Females: | 196 | 51.58% | 47.3 years |
| Total: | 380 | 100% | 41.4 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 188 | 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: | 188 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 188 | 100.00% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 0 | 0.00% |
In 2023, the Median household income is $19,188, which is considerably lower than the national median ($78,538), is down $41,312 (68.3%) since 2011 and below its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $14,979. Family households earn a median of $0 versus $27,614 for nonfamily households (a difference of $27,614). By gender, male median income is $0 and female is $0, which is well under the state female median ($44,242), with a current gap of $0 that has widened from 2011 to 2023. The labor-force participation rate is 32.7%, which is much lower than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 0.0%, which is much lower than the state rate (5.7%). The largest occupation group is Service (64.3%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $60,500 | $60,417 | $35,729 | $34,861 | $0 | $39,583 | $38,125 | $32,898 | $34,167 | $36,397 | $33,152 | $0 | $19,188 |
| Median Family Income | $61,333 | $61,250 | $36,875 | $45,156 | $0 | $60,050 | $44,531 | $35,833 | $34,063 | $46,094 | $34,185 | $0 | $0 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $16,974 | $27,614 |
| Median Male Income | $0 | $60,707 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $78,000 | $112,560 | $81,875 | $117,548 | $50,938 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Median Female Income | $40,417 | $28,565 | $22,143 | $24,716 | $0 | $26,615 | $26,307 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Employed: | 56 | 32.75% |
| Unemployed: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 115 | 67.25% |
| Total: | 171 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 9 | 16.07% |
| Service: | 36 | 64.29% |
| Sales and Office: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 11 | 19.64% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 56 | 100% |
In 2023, the median home value is $80,500, which is considerably lower than the national median ($303,400), is up $28,600 (55.11%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $26,800. The median gross rent is $0, which is far less than the state median ($850), and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $0. Of occupied housing, owners make up 63.64% (0.00% with a mortgage, 100.00% free-and-clear) and renters 36.36% - making this ZIP Code less home ownership than the state and higher than national rental averages. Insufficient data for vacancy rate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $51,900 | $55,000 | $28,500 | $43,900 | $53,300 | $53,600 | $0 | $50,000 | $53,700 | $0 | $93,900 | $117,500 | $80,500 |
| Less than $500: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $500 to $999: | 36 | 100.00% |
| $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: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total: | 36 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 0 | 0.00% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 63 | 63.64% |
| Renter Occupied: | 36 | 36.36% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 99 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 99 | 100.00% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Housing Units: | 99 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 89 | 89.90% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Other Units: | 10 | 10.10% |
| Total Housing Units: | 99 | 100% |
In 2023, 21.50% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is comparable to the national rate (35.00%). High school or higher is 100.00%, which is on par with the state rate (88.60%). The uninsured rate is 0.00%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.60%). Public coverage is 83.50%, which is far higher than the national rate (36.30%). The share of people in poverty is 62.10%, which is far higher than the national rate (8.70%), up 31.70 percentage points since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 62.10 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 (60.71%). College enrollment is 39.29%, which is on par with the state rate (25.10%), meaning the community mirrors broader higher-education participation.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 0 | 0.00% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 0 | 0.00% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 37 | 30.58% |
| Some college, no degree: | 36 | 29.75% |
| Associate's degree: | 22 | 18.18% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 17 | 14.05% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 9 | 7.44% |
| Total: | 121 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 121 | 100.00% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 26 | 21.49% |
| Private Insurance: | 65 | 29.28% |
| Public Insurance: | 157 | 70.72% |
| No Insurance: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total: | 222 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 222 | 100.00% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 30.4% | 28.2% | 30.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 33.0% | 47.8% | 62.1% |
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: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 17 | 60.71% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 0 | 0.00% |
| College or graduate school: | 11 | 39.29% |
| Total: | 28 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 0 | 0.00% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 17 | 60.71% |
ZIP Code 26563 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 4 business establishments, employing about 27 people with an annual payroll of $468,000.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 174Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 4Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $98,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $468,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 27Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 26563 is located in Marion County, West Virginia, within the Fairmont, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 21900) and West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. This Micro area has a population of 56,042 people, about 0.68% of whom live in ZIP Code 26563. It covers 0.711 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.001 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Fairmont, WVSource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 21900Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MicroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 56,042Source: Census |
| MSA: | Source: Census |
| Land Area: | 0.711 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.001 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 02Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 8017.31 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 5413468Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Carolina CDP; West VirginiaSource: Census |
We could not locate which school district 26563 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 January 1, 2026.