Best counties to raise a family in West Virginia
Best counties to raise a family in West Virginia
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in West Virginia using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Taylor County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C-), cost of living (A), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 16,543
- Median household income: $56,807
- Median home value: $144,000
- Top places to live: Grafton (B), Flemington (C+)
#24. Randolph County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C-), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 27,782
- Median household income: $55,057
- Median home value: $137,800
- Top places to live: Elkins (B), East Dailey (A-), Womelsdorf (Coalton) (C+)
#23. Hardy County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 14,236
- Median household income: $49,302
- Median home value: $159,700
- Top places to live: Moorefield (B), Wardensville (C)
#22. Wayne County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 38,498
- Median household income: $55,539
- Median home value: $124,900
- Top places to live: Kenova (B+), Ceredo (B), Lavalette (B)
#21. Doddridge County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B+), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 7,767
- Median household income: $61,164
- Median home value: $160,000
- Top places to live: West Union (B)
#20. Grant County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 10,972
- Median household income: $61,530
- Median home value: $167,500
- Top places to live: Petersburg (B), Bayard (C)
#19. Greenbrier County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C), cost of living (A-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 32,688
- Median household income: $48,662
- Median home value: $136,300
- Top places to live: Lewisburg (A), White Sulphur Springs (B-), Ronceverte (B-)
#18. Wirt County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (A+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 5,131
- Median household income: $54,688
- Median home value: $112,800
- Top places to live: Elizabeth (C+)
#17. Marshall County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 30,129
- Median household income: $60,329
- Median home value: $139,800
- Top places to live: Glen Dale (A-), Moundsville (B), McMechen (B)
#16. Mineral County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C-), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 26,922
- Median household income: $68,049
- Median home value: $180,400
- Top places to live: Keyser (B), Carpendale (C+), Wiley Ford (B)
#15. Jackson County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 27,753
- Median household income: $55,671
- Median home value: $154,600
- Top places to live: Ripley (B), Ravenswood (B)
#14. Mercer County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 59,062
- Median household income: $47,799
- Median home value: $118,600
- Top places to live: Athens (A), Bluefield (B), Princeton (B)
#13. Berkeley County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 126,165
- Median household income: $77,329
- Median home value: $248,000
- Top places to live: Falling Waters (B-), Martinsburg (B-), Inwood (C+)
#12. Kanawha County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C), cost of living (A), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 178,198
- Median household income: $58,887
- Median home value: $135,000
- Top places to live: Charleston (A), South Charleston (A-), Cross Lanes (B+)
#11. Marion County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (A-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 56,042
- Median household income: $67,537
- Median home value: $164,300
- Top places to live: Barrackville (B+), Fairmont (B+), White Hall (B+)
#10. Hancock County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 28,658
- Median household income: $61,017
- Median home value: $119,600
- Top places to live: Weirton (B+), Chester (B), Newell (C+)
#9. Harrison County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 65,407
- Median household income: $58,326
- Median home value: $158,500
- Top places to live: Bridgeport (A+), Nutter Fort (B+), Shinnston (B)
#8. Wood County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 83,829
- Median household income: $56,193
- Median home value: $153,700
- Top places to live: Williamstown (A), Vienna (A), Blennerhassett (A-)
#7. Raleigh County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (A-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 73,666
- Median household income: $52,055
- Median home value: $142,600
- Top places to live: Mabscott (B+), Shady Spring (B+), Prosperity (B)
#6. Tyler County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A-), cost of living (A+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 8,181
- Median household income: $58,293
- Median home value: $112,100
- Top places to live: Middlebourne (B+), Sistersville (B+)
#5. Putnam County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 57,250
- Median household income: $77,871
- Median home value: $214,200
- Top places to live: Teays Valley (A), Winfield (A), Hurricane (A-)
#4. Cabell County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 93,300
- Median household income: $52,828
- Median home value: $156,100
- Top places to live: Barboursville (A), Pea Ridge (A), Culloden (A-)
#3. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 58,546
- Median household income: $95,523
- Median home value: $324,500
- Top places to live: Shepherdstown (A), Charles Town (A-), Ranson (B-)
#2. Ohio County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 41,904
- Median household income: $57,867
- Median home value: $165,300
- Top places to live: Bethlehem (A), Wheeling (B+), Clearview (A)
#1. Monongalia County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 106,520
- Median household income: $62,704
- Median home value: $254,200
- Top places to live: Star City (A+), Cheat Lake (A+), Brookhaven (A)
