Best places to live in West Virginia
What do you look for in an ideal town? Proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches? How about top-ranked schools for your children? Would you like a professional or college sports team nearby, or do you prefer museums and art walks?
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in West Virginia using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
#10. Teays Valley
- Population: 13,866
- Median home value: $227,200 (80% own)
- Median rent: $1,020 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $89,045
- Top public schools: Winfield Middle School (A), West Teays Elementary School (A), Winfield Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Teays Valley Christian School (B)
#9. Vienna
- Population: 10,348
- Median home value: $134,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $657 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $55,562
- Top public schools: Greenmont Elementary School (A-), Neale Elementary School (B+), Madison Elementary School (B+)
#8. Bethlehem
- Population: 2,461
- Median home value: $158,100 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,083 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $73,065
- Top public schools: Ritchie Elementary School (A), Bethlehem Elementary School (A-), Wheeling Park High School (B+)
#7. Brookhaven
- Population: 6,043
- Median home value: $207,700 (81% own)
- Median rent: $717 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $72,500
- Top public schools: Mountaineer Middle School (A), Cheat Lake Elementary School (A), Morgantown High School (A-)
#6. Morgantown
- Population: 30,712
- Median home value: $210,300 (43% own)
- Median rent: $851 (57% rent)
- Median household income: $42,966
- Top public schools: Suncrest Middle School (A), North Elementary School (A), Suncrest Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: West Virginia University Child Learning Center
#5. Athens
- Population: 1,149
- Median home value: $114,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $663 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $53,333
- Top public schools: Athens Elementary School (B+), Pikeview Middle School (B), Pikeview High School (C+)
#4. Winfield
- Population: 2,785
- Median home value: $202,300 (87% own)
- Median rent: $773 (13% rent)
- Median household income: $78,871
- Top public schools: Winfield Middle School (A), West Teays Elementary School (A), Winfield Elementary School (A-)
#3. Bridgeport
- Population: 8,556
- Median home value: $222,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,104 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $84,382
- Top public schools: Bridgeport High School (A), Bridgeport Middle School (A-), Johnson Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Heritage Christian School
#2. Cheat Lake
- Population: 9,251
- Median home value: $298,900 (80% own)
- Median rent: $908 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $89,310
- Top public schools: Mountaineer Middle School (A), Cheat Lake Elementary School (A), Morgantown High School (A-)
- Top private schools: Trinity Christian School (B)
#1. Star City
- Population: 2,160
- Median home value: $164,400 (52% own)
- Median rent: $809 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $45,199
- Top public schools: Suncrest Middle School (A), Suncrest Elementary School (A), Morgantown High School (A-)
