West Virginia has a cost of living index of 73 (US average = 100) with a median household income of $54,014 and a population of 787,860. We ranked 15 cities based on affordability, income, housing value, and climate to find the best places to call home in West Virginia.
Cheat Lake is 6% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $111,379 and a population of 10,485.
Charleston is 26% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $64,512 and a population of 47,918.
Teays Valley is 9% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $106,798 and a population of 13,961.
Cross Lanes is 29% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $62,704 and a population of 10,172.
Huntington is 33% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $43,146 and a population of 46,189.
Fairmont is 27% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $60,791 and a population of 18,303.
Parkersburg is 37% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $44,675 and a population of 29,461.
Clarksburg is 35% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $46,859 and a population of 15,829.
Weirton is 36% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $56,699 and a population of 18,785.
Vienna is 31% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $65,211 and a population of 10,575.
South Charleston is 31% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $59,616 and a population of 13,594.
St. Albans is 31% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $58,788 and a population of 10,637.
Martinsburg is 15% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $54,590 and a population of 18,805.
Wheeling is 33% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $48,498 and a population of 26,670.
Beckley is 30% cheaper than the national average with a median income of $39,939 and a population of 16,977.
Our livability score combines four data-driven factors: affordability (35% — cost of living index relative to national average), income (25% — median household income from the Census Bureau), housing value (15% — home price to income ratio), and climate (15% — NOAA temperature normals favoring moderate climates). Population serves as a proxy for amenities (10%).
Only cities with at least 5,000–10,000 residents are included. Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, Zillow, HUD, and NOAA.