If you enjoy hiking, biking, mountain climbing and great tasty pepperoni rolls, moving to West Virginia isn’t a bad idea.
Homes are affordable in West Virginia, more affordable than the United States average. The cost of living in West Virginia is low, and crime rates are lower than national average.
Even more, West Virginia boasts of the most remarkable autumn on the planet and you can enjoy all four seasons in the state.
If you’d love to live in a state where you can enjoy lots of outdoor activities and your kids can grow around very friendly neighbors, moving to West Virginia isn’t a bad idea.
To help you make the right decision about moving to West Virginia, we’ve compiled all the key information you need to know about the state.
Let’s jump right in!
West Virginia has a population of 1,836,843 living in 55 different counties. Here’s a simple breakdown of the state’s population since you’re considering moving to West Virginia:
Moving to West Virginia means you’ll enjoy all four seasons in a year. To determine if the climate and weather in West Virginia is suitable for you or not, take a look at the simple breakdown below and compare it to your current state.
Is moving to West Virginia right for you or not? Lots of people move to West Virginia every year for several reasons. Here we’ve listed the ten reasons why people are moving here
Take a look at the upside and downside of moving to Virginia. Then weigh your options carefully before making up your mind about moving to Virginia:
The pros | The cons |
---|---|
The cost of living in West Virginia is lower than the national average | The unemployment rate in West Virginia is higher than the national average |
You’ll enjoy tons of outdoor activities in West Virginia | Some cities seem to discourage people from living there |
Crime rates in West Virginia is lower than the national average | West Virginia is a long way from a larger modern city |
West Virginia big cities are relatively small | Heroin addiction is a key problem in West Virginia |
Experience living where the bluegrass genre began | Some people apply to some ugly stereotypes in West Virginia |
You’ll enjoy all four seasons in West Virginia | Some communities find it hard to welcome newcomers |
You’ll love West Virginia if you love rainfall | |
West Virginians are friendly people |
If you’re moving to West Virginia, you’d most likely be interested in the best places to live in the state. So, we’ve compiled a list of the ten best cities in West Virginia including their population, unemployment rate, and home values. Check out the list below:
Rank | City | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hurricane | 16,482 | 4.2% | $151,600 |
2 | Vienna | 10,348 | 3.7% | $134,900 |
3 | Bridgeport | 8,556 | 1.8% | $222,800 |
4 | South Charleston | 12,475 | 4.8% | $130,700 |
5 | Morgantown | 30,712 | 9.7% | $210,300 |
6 | Wheeling | 27062 | 6.6% | $110,100 |
7 | Dunbar | 7,333 | 5.0% | $98,400 |
8 | Elkins | 7,072 | 6.4% | $122,800 |
9 | St. Albans | 10,270 | 6.9% | $113,300 |
10 | New Martinsville | 5,162 | 6.8% | $96,000 |
The cost of living in Virginia is 103.7. Based on a national average of 100, the cost of living in Virginia is slightly higher than the United States average.The cost of living in West Virginia is 78.1. The United States average is 100. This means the average cost of living in West Virginia is lower than the national average. If you’re considering living in a state with a low cost of living, moving to West Virginia could be a great idea.
Renting a home could be a good idea if you’re moving to West Virginia. About 22.7% of West Virginians are renters. Also, up to 1.9% of homes and apartments in West Virginia are available to rent. Here are the average costs of renting various homes or apartments if you’re moving to West Virginia:
West Virginia median home value is $110,544. The United States median home value is $231,000. Over the past year, West Virginia home values have increased by 3.4%. The state’s home values are expected to increase by 9.1% in the next year, according to real estate experts.
Whether you’re looking to get a job after moving to West Virginia, considering a startup as a business or even an investor, chances are that you’ll be interested in the states job market and economy. We’ve compiled key data about West Virginia’s job market to give you the information you need to make the right decision.
West Virginia is home to some of the largest industries in the country. If you’re moving to West Virginia, either as a businessman or an employee, you’ll most likely be interested in the top industries in the state. Here are the top industries in West Virginia:
The unemployment rate in West Virginia is higher than the United States average. If you’re moving to West Virginia, you can increase your chances of getting a job faster by considering some of the fastest growing jobs in the state. Here’s a list of the top ten fastest growing jobs in West Virginia:
Rank | Job Title | Growth % | Average Wage | Jobs in 2024 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Home Health Aid | 129.2% | $20,060 | 5,880 |
2 | Personal Care Assistant | 125.8% | $19,840 | 17,710 |
3 | Physical Therapist Assistant | 121.2% | $50,390 | 1,030 |
4 | Physical Therapist | 119.7% | $83,310 | 1,520 |
5 | Physician Assistant | 119.6% | $99,090 | 1,100 |
6 | Marketing Internship | 119.5% | $44,640 | 1,040 |
7 | Nurse Practitioner | 116.5% | $92,890 | 1,060 |
8 | Medical Receptionist | 115.2% | $29,670 | 1,440 |
9 | Industrial Mechanic | 114.4% | $45,910 | 3,330 |
10 | Representative | 113.6% | $30,580 | 1,000 |
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START MY QUOTEThe average annual pay for the average job in West Virginia is $106,927. If you’re considering moving to West Virginia, the average pay is one of the key things to consider. Here’s a simple breakdown of the average pay in West Virginia:
West Virginia’s unemployment rate is 4.6%. The national average is 3.7%. The state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average. Since you’re mulling over moving to West Virginia, this is one of the key things you’ll have to consider.
Moving to West Virginia could mean getting the opportunity to work in one of the biggest companies in the state. To give you a head start, here are the 10 biggest companies in West Virginia, including their names, cities, and number of employees.:
Rank | Company | City | Employees |
---|---|---|---|
1 | West Virginia United Health System | Morgantown | 7,000 |
2 | CAMC Health System | Charleston | 6,858 |
3 | Brand Energy and Infrastructure Services | Culloden | 6,000 |
4 | MedExpress Urgent Care | Morgantown | 4,794 |
5 | ESMARK | Wheeling | 3,740 |
6 | Ogden Newspapers | Wheeling | 3,500 |
7 | Special Metals | Huntington | 3,188 |
8 | Oglebay | Wheeling | 3,000 |
9 | Thomas Memorial Hospital | South Charleston | 3,000 |
10 | DFS NEWELL | Newell | 3,000 |
West Virginia average one-way commute time takes 25.7 minutes. The United States average is 26.4 minutes. This means commuting time in West Virginia is shorter than the national average. Spending less time on the road also means dealing with less amount of stress. This is one of the key things to think through before making up your mind about moving to West Virginia.
Here’s a simple stat about how people commute to work in West Virginia:
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START MY QUOTESafety is one of the key things to consider if you’re moving to West Virginia. You can compare the crime rates in West Virginia to your current state and the entire U.S. using the crime stats below:
You will most likely be interested in the safest cities to live in if you’re moving to West Virginia. Here we’ve compiled a list of the ten safest cities in West Virginia considering their population, violent crimes per 100,000 and property crimes per 100,000 to enable you make a fair comparison.
Rank | City | Population | Violent Crimes Per 100k | Property Crimes Per 100k |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Martinsville, WV | 5,114 | 39 | 273 |
2 | Winfield, WV | 2,378 | 0 | 504 |
3 | Oak Hill, WV | 8,140 | 61 | 171 |
4 | Weston, WV | 3,887 | 102 | 51 |
5 | Weirton, WV | 18,296 | 60 | 480 |
6 | Wellsburg, WV | 2,531 | 39 | 671 |
7 | Williamson, WV | 2,694 | 222 | 74 |
8 | White Sulphur Springs, WV | 2,395 | 208 | 501 |
9 | Charles Town, WV | 6,171 | 145 | 1,215 |
10 | Summersville, WV | 3,292 | 30 | 3,250 |
West Virginia has some of the lowest property taxes in the United States. Also, the state’s average effective property tax rate is the ninth-lowest in the entire United States. Here are key tax rates to consider if you’re moving to West Virginia:
West Virginia is known for many things. If you’re considering moving to West Virginia you should be aware of the key things the state is known for. West Virginia is known for the following key reasons:
Whether you have school age kids or not, if you’re interested in moving to West Virginia you should be aware of the best schools in the state. Buying a home in strategic locations such as one in a top-quality school district can be an advantage when you’re ready to sell.
We’ve listed the top-rated colleges, high schools, middle schools and elementary schools in the state since you’re considering moving to West Virginia.
Hometown Elementary School
Putnam County Schools, Public, PK-5 | 62 students, Rating: 9/10
Evans Elementary School
Jackson County Schools, Public, PK-5 | 183 students, Rating: 9/10
Ritchie Elementary School
Ohio County Schools, Public, PK-5 | 299 students, Rating: 9/10
Smithville Elementary School
Ritchie County Schools, Public, PK-5 | 119 students, Rating: 9/10
Criss Elementary School
Wood County Schools, Public, PK-5 | 272 students, Rating: 9/10
John Adams Middle School
Kanawha County Schools, Public, 6-8 | 751 students, Rating: 8/10
Fairview Middle School
Marion County Schools, Public, PK-8 | 190 students, Rating: 8/10
Suncrest Middle School
Monongalia County Schools, Public, 6-8 | 494 students, Rating: 8/10
Winfield Middle School
Putnam County Schools, Public, 6-8 | 604 students, Rating: 8/10
Edison Junior High School
Wood County Schools, Public, 6-8 | 624 students, Rating: 8/10
Bridgeport High School
FHarrison County Schools, Public, 9-12 | 790 students, Rating: 8/10
Doddridge County High School
Doddridge County Schools, Public, 9-12 | 305 students, Rating: 8/10
Musselman High School
Berkeley County Schools, Public, 9-12 | 1593 students, Rating: 8/10
Frankfort High School
Mineral County Schools, Public, 9-12 | 518 students, Rating: 8/10
Buffalo High School
Putnam County Schools, Public, 9-12 | 341 students, Rating: 8/10
Rank 1. Bethany College, Bethany, WV
Rank 2. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Rank 3. West Virginia State University, Institute, WV
Rank 4. Concord University, Athens, WV
Rank 5. Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV
Rank 6. Alderson Broaddus University, Philippi, WV
Rank 7. Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, WV
Rank 8. Marshall University, Huntington, WV
Rank 9. West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV
Rank 10. University of Charleston, Charleston, WV
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