 The per capita income for the city was $13,476.About 15.8% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.In October 2009, the Ohio state government declared the City of Wellston to be in a state of fiscal emergency "as defined by Section 118.03(A)(6) and 118.03(B) of the Ohio Revised Code" on the basis of a "treasury deficiency".