Best counties to raise a family in West Virginia

- Population: 23,965
- Median home value: $131,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $701 (23% own)
- Median household income: $44,470
- Top public schools: Washington District Elementary School (grade C+), Buckhannon Academy Elementary School (grade C), Union Elementary School (grade C minus)
- Top private schools: Upshur Human Resources, Inc. - Buckhannon Center (grade unavailable), Upshur Human Resources, Inc. - Hinkle Drive l (grade unavailable), Upshur Human Resources, Inc. - Hinkle Drive ll (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Buckhannon (grade B)

- Population: 21,581
- Median home value: $75,500 (85% own)
- Median rent: $659 (15% own)
- Median household income: $44,630
- Top public schools: Pineville Elementary School (grade B), Glen Fork Elementary/Middle School (grade B), Pineville Middle School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Turkey Ridge Independent Baptist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Oceana (grade C), Mullens (grade B+), Pineville (grade C)

- Population: 41,056
- Median home value: $95,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $652 (22% own)
- Median household income: $45,988
- Top public schools: Gauley Bridge Elementary School (grade B minus), Divide Elementary School (grade B minus), Ansted Elementary School (grade C)
- Top private schools: Mountain View Christian School (grade C+), Mount Hope Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Fayetteville (grade B), Oak Hill (grade B minus), Smithers (grade B minus)

- Population: 28,150
- Median home value: $116,100 (74% own)
- Median rent: $686 (26% own)
- Median household income: $47,343
- Top public schools: Midland Elementary School (grade B minus), Jennings Randolph Elementary School (grade B minus), North Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Highland Adventist School (grade A minus), Tygart Valley Christian Academy (grade unavailable), New Life Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Elkins (grade B minus), Valley Bend (grade C+), East Dailey (grade C)

- Population: 39,337
- Median home value: $105,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $761 (24% own)
- Median household income: $45,591
- Top public schools: Vinson Middle School (grade B+), Lavalette Elementary School (grade B), Kellogg Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Ceredo (grade B), Kenova (grade B minus), Lavalette (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade C+

- Population: 34,266
- Median home value: $128,800 (81% own)
- Median rent: $672 (19% own)
- Median household income: $55,755
- Top public schools: Fellowsville Elementary School (grade B minus), Aurora Elementary School (grade B minus), Bruceton School (grade C)
- Top private schools: Kingwood (grade B), Brandonville (grade B minus), Masontown (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade C+

- Population: 6,249
- Median home value: $135,600 (84% own)
- Median rent: $586 (16% own)
- Median household income: $46,506
- Top public schools: Brandywine Elementary School (grade B+), North Fork Elementary School (grade B minus), Franklin Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Franklin (grade B+), Brandywine (grade C minus)
- Top places to live: grade C+

- Population: 5,264
- Median home value: $97,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $455 (17% own)
- Median household income: $49,441
- Top public schools: Wirt County Middle School (grade C+), Wirt County Primary Center (grade C), Wirt County High School (grade C)
- Top private schools: Elizabeth (grade C+)
- Top places to live: grade C

- Population: 14,269
- Median home value: $141,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $844 (23% own)
- Median household income: $46,592
- Top public schools: Moorefield Middle School (grade B), Moorefield High School (grade B minus), Moorefield Intermediate School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Moorefield (grade C+), Wardensville (grade C+)
- Top places to live: grade C+

- Population: 30,813
- Median home value: $116,800 (80% own)
- Median rent: $666 (20% own)
- Median household income: $52,371
- Top public schools: Glen Dale Elementary School (grade B), Sherrard Junior High School (grade B), Washington Lands Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Our Lady of Peace School (grade unavailable), St. Francis Xavier School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Glen Dale (grade A minus), McMechen (grade B+), Benwood (grade B)

- Population: 25,667
- Median home value: $108,700 (84% own)
- Median rent: $599 (16% own)
- Median household income: $49,957
- Top public schools: Wahama High School (grade B minus), Beale Elementary School (grade C+), New Haven Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Cornerstone Academy (grade unavailable), COUNTRY VIEW SCHOOL (grade unavailable), Sycamore Hollow School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: New Haven (grade B minus), Point Pleasant (grade B minus), Mason (grade B minus)

- Population: 16,727
- Median home value: $120,000 (81% own)
- Median rent: $674 (19% own)
- Median household income: $52,823
- Top public schools: West Taylor Elementary School (grade B), Flemington Elementary School (grade B), Anna Jarvis Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Grafton (grade B minus), Flemington (grade C+)
- Top places to live: grade C+

- Population: 7,929
- Median home value: $135,900 (91% own)
- Median rent: $384 (9% own)
- Median household income: $58,750
- Top public schools: Doddridge County Middle School (grade B+), Doddridge County Elementary School (grade B), Doddridge County High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: West Union (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B

- Population: 8,397
- Median home value: $96,000 (87% own)
- Median rent: $663 (13% own)
- Median household income: $50,601
- Top public schools: Sistersville Elementary School (grade B), Tyler Consolidated Middle School (grade B), Tyler Consolidated High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Indian Creek Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Middlebourne (grade B), Sistersville (grade B)

- Population: 28,011
- Median home value: $137,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $698 (24% own)
- Median household income: $53,165
- Top public schools: Evans Elementary School (grade A minus), Fairplain Elementary School (grade B+), Gilmore Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Heritage Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Ripley (grade B), Ravenswood (grade B minus)

- Population: 27,045
- Median home value: $151,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $682 (22% own)
- Median household income: $57,345
- Top public schools: New Creek Primary School (grade A minus), Elk Garden School (grade B), Frankfort High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Keyser (grade B), Carpendale (grade C), Ridgeley (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B

- Population: 74,929
- Median home value: $112,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $760 (25% own)
- Median household income: $43,150
- Top public schools: Crescent Elementary School (grade A minus), Hollywood Elementary School (grade B+), Park Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Victory Baptist Academy (grade B+), Greater Beckley Christian School (grade B minus), Mabscott Christian Academy (grade C+)
- Top places to live: Mabscott (grade B), Piney View (grade B), Shady Spring (grade B)

- Population: 59,892
- Median home value: $104,100 (69% own)
- Median rent: $743 (31% own)
- Median household income: $43,293
- Top public schools: Athens Elementary School (grade B+), Spanishburg School (grade B), Pikeview Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Mercer Christian Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: Athens (grade A), Bluefield (grade B), Princeton (grade B)

- Population: 33,307
- Median home value: $128,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $737 (27% own)
- Median household income: $41,694
- Top public schools: Rainelle Elementary School (grade B), White Sulphur Elementary School (grade B), Lewisburg Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Seneca Trail Christian Academy (grade B), Lewisburg Baptist Academy (grade B), The Greenbrier Community School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lewisburg (grade B+), Ronceverte (grade B minus), White Sulphur Springs (grade C+)

- Population: 56,256
- Median home value: $125,300 (74% own)
- Median rent: $796 (26% own)
- Median household income: $55,094
- Top public schools: Fairview Middle School (grade A minus), White Hall Elementary School (grade A minus), Pleasant Valley Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Fairmont Catholic Grade School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pleasant Valley (grade A minus), White Hall (grade B+), Fairmont (grade B)

- Population: 29,223
- Median home value: $97,800 (72% own)
- Median rent: $686 (28% own)
- Median household income: $52,062
- Top public schools: New Manchester Elementary School (grade B+), Allison Elementary School (grade B+), Oak Glen Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Weirton Madonna High School (grade B+), St. Paul School (grade unavailable), St. Joseph the Worker Grade School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Weirton (grade B+), Chester (grade B minus), Newell (grade C minus)

- Population: 84,678
- Median home value: $129,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $755 (26% own)
- Median household income: $50,231
- Top public schools: Greenmont Elementary School (grade A minus), Gihon Elementary School (grade A minus), Williamstown Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Parkersburg Catholic High School (grade A minus), Wood County Christian School (grade B+), Parkersburg Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Williamstown (grade A), Vienna (grade A minus), Blennerhassett (grade B+)

- Population: 181,953
- Median home value: $118,200 (70% own)
- Median rent: $798 (30% own)
- Median household income: $50,574
- Top public schools: George Washington High School (grade A minus), Kenna Elementary School (grade A minus), Holz Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Charleston Catholic High School (grade A), Cross Lanes Christian School (grade B), Elk Valley Christian School (grade C+)
- Top places to live: Charleston (grade A minus), South Charleston (grade A minus), Cross Lanes (grade B+)

- Population: 120,460
- Median home value: $196,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,064 (26% own)
- Median household income: $68,101
- Top public schools: Burke Street Elementary School (grade B+), Spring Mills Middle School (grade B), Musselman High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Faith Christian Academy (grade B), St. Joseph School (grade unavailable), Rocky Knoll School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Martinsburg (grade B minus), Falling Waters (grade C+), Inwood (grade C+)

- Population: 66,222
- Median home value: $124,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $798 (26% own)
- Median household income: $54,124
- Top public schools: Bridgeport High School (grade A minus), Bridgeport Middle School (grade A minus), Johnson Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame High School (grade A minus), Heritage Christian School (grade A minus), St. Mary's Grade School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bridgeport (grade A), Clarksburg (grade B), Shinnston (grade B)

- Population: 94,622
- Median home value: $129,900 (64% own)
- Median rent: $775 (36% own)
- Median household income: $43,779
- Top public schools: Culloden Elementary School (grade A minus), Nichols Elementary School (grade B+), Hite Saunders Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Catholic High School (grade A minus), Covenant School (grade B+), Grace Christian School (grade B)
- Top places to live: Barboursville (grade A minus), Pea Ridge (grade A minus), Culloden (grade B+)

- Population: 57,385
- Median home value: $176,300 (82% own)
- Median rent: $862 (18% own)
- Median household income: $68,740
- Top public schools: Winfield Middle School (grade A), West Teays Elementary School (grade A), Winfield Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Teays Valley Christian School (grade B), Calvary Baptist Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: Winfield (grade A), Teays Valley (grade A), Hurricane (grade A minus)

- Population: 57,542
- Median home value: $276,700 (79% own)
- Median rent: $978 (21% own)
- Median household income: $86,711
- Top public schools: C.W. Shipley Elementary School (grade B+), Harpers Ferry Middle School (grade B+), Washington High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Wee Disciples Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Jefferson Academy (grade unavailable), Rock Spring Child Learning Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Shepherdstown (grade A minus), Charles Town (grade B+), Ranson (grade B)

- Population: 42,443
- Median home value: $135,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $726 (31% own)
- Median household income: $51,516
- Top public schools: Ritchie Elementary School (grade A), Bethlehem Elementary School (grade A), Triadelphia Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: The Linsly School (grade A), Central Catholic High School (grade A minus), St. Michael Parish School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bethlehem (grade A), Wheeling (grade B+), Clearview (grade A)

- Population: 105,695
- Median home value: $221,600 (57% own)
- Median rent: $868 (43% own)
- Median household income: $56,466
- Top public schools: North Elementary School (grade A), Suncrest Middle School (grade A), Suncrest Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian School (grade B+), Morgantown Christian Academy (grade B minus), St. Francis de Sales Central Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Star City (grade A+), Cheat Lake (grade A+), Morgantown (grade A minus)