West Virginia
Among the top 12% of US states for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B+, better than 80% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 35% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade A, better than 88% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade F, better than 2% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 28% of US states
- top 2% for monthly rent
- top 6% for monthly owner costs
- bottom 4% for walkability
West Virginia is a U.S. state with about 1,793,000 residents. It grades A for safety & wellbeing and F for getting around. Standout strengths include monthly rent, monthly owner costs, and property crime. It rates lower on broadband access and walkability.
Official websitewv.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in West Virginia is $151k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in West Virginia is $56k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in West Virginia is $819 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- West Virginia has a violent crime rate of 844/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in West Virginia is 27 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$56k4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$48kbetter than 68% of US states
Home Value$151k2nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$819better than 98% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$19kbetter than 94% of US states
Property Tax Rate0.56%better than 84% of US states
Income Tax6.54%better than 28% of US states
Sales Tax6.57%better than 60% of US states
Estimated total tax burden10.17%better than 56% of US states
Unemployment6.2%better than 20% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)33°F53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation45.8 in55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall27.6 inbetter than 45% of US states
Sunny Days210 daysbetter than 33% of US states
Summer Humidity64°Fbetter than 47% of US states
Comfortable Days83 daysbetter than 50% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk64.3better than 86% of US states
Air Quality41 AQIbetter than 74% of US states
School Quality51.3better than 30% of US states
Violent Crime844/100kbetter than 82% of US states
Property Crime1144/100kbetter than 88% of US states
Community
Population1,792,96724th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age42.890th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.164th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0059th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+3998th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)90.7%96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)3.4%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)1.8%0th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.8%2nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.4%12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time27 minbetter than 29% of US states
Walkability6.3/20better than 4% of US states
Airport Distance104 mibetter than 22% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.6%better than 8% of US states
Amenities Nearby5.33better than 71% of US states
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 33% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is West Virginia an affordable place to live?
- West Virginia is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $48k, better than 68% of comparable areas. Median rent is $819.
- Is West Virginia safe?
- West Virginia is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 844/100k (better than 82%). Property crime is 1144/100k.
- What is the weather like in West Virginia?
- West Virginia averages 74°F in July and 33°F in January, with 45.8 in of annual precipitation and about 210 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in West Virginia?
- Public-school quality in West Virginia is below average, scoring better than 30% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in West Virginia?
- The average one-way commute in West Virginia is 27 min.