Before you decide to relocate to West Virginia, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in West Virginia that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 25 places in West Virginia with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in West Virginia for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In West Virginia For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in West Virginia? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Charles Town is the most expensive place to live in West Virginia.
Moundsville (the cheapest place to live in West Virginia) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about West Virginia and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In West Virginia For 2024
/10
Population: 6,584
Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $83,275
Average Home Price: $372,666
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Charles Town: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Charles Town is 106. The median income in Charles Town comes in at $83,275 and the average home value is $372,666 for 2024.
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Population: 9,255
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $96,063
Average Home Price: $269,583
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on Bridgeport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Bridgeport is 100. The median income in Bridgeport comes in at $96,063 and the average home value is $269,583 for 2024.
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Population: 18,678
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $55,240
Average Home Price: $275,161
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Martinsburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Martinsburg is 98. The median income in Martinsburg comes in at $55,240 and the average home value is $275,161 for 2024.
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Population: 30,220
Cost Of Living Index: 96
Median Income: $41,103
Average Home Price: $267,332
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.5x
More on Morgantown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Morgantown is 96. The median income in Morgantown comes in at $41,103 and the average home value is $267,332 for 2024.
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Population: 48,415
Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $58,902
Average Home Price: $154,944
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.6x
More on Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Charleston is 95. The median income in Charleston comes in at $58,902 and the average home value is $154,944 for 2024.
/10
Population: 6,908
Cost Of Living Index: 94
Median Income: $70,861
Average Home Price: $240,660
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Hurricane: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Hurricane is 94. The median income in Hurricane comes in at $70,861 and the average home value is $240,660 for 2024.
/10
Population: 10,753
Cost Of Living Index: 92
Median Income: $60,524
Average Home Price: $138,016
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.3x
More on St. Albans: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in St. Albans is 92. The median income in St. Albans comes in at $60,524 and the average home value is $138,016 for 2024.
/10
Population: 10,642
Cost Of Living Index: 92
Median Income: $62,979
Average Home Price: $174,695
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on Vienna: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Vienna is 92. The median income in Vienna comes in at $62,979 and the average home value is $174,695 for 2024.
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Population: 17,132
Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $41,277
Average Home Price: $113,834
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on Beckley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Beckley is 91. The median income in Beckley comes in at $41,277 and the average home value is $113,834 for 2024.
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Population: 13,527
Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $58,756
Average Home Price: $153,555
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.6x
More on South Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in South Charleston is 91. The median income in South Charleston comes in at $58,756 and the average home value is $153,555 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Mountain State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in West Virginia are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in West Virginia to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 25 places in West Virginia that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in West Virginia according to the data is Charles Town. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in West Virginia.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In West Virginia For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in West Virginia that have the highest cost of living, with Charles Town ranking as the most expensive city in the Mountain State.
The most expensive cities in West Virginia are Charles Town, Bridgeport, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Charleston, Hurricane, St. Albans, Vienna, Beckley, and South Charleston.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in West Virginia according to the data:
- Moundsville
- Bluefield
- New Martinsville
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia
- Safest Places In West Virginia
- Worst Places To Live In West Virginia
Most Expensive Cities In West Virginia
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Town | 106 | 6,584 | $83,275 | $372,666 | 4.5x |
| 2 | Bridgeport | 100 | 9,255 | $96,063 | $269,583 | 2.8x |
| 3 | Martinsburg | 98 | 18,678 | $55,240 | $275,161 | 5.0x |
| 4 | Morgantown | 96 | 30,220 | $41,103 | $267,332 | 6.5x |
| 5 | Charleston | 95 | 48,415 | $58,902 | $154,944 | 2.6x |
| 6 | Hurricane | 94 | 6,908 | $70,861 | $240,660 | 3.4x |
| 7 | St. Albans | 92 | 10,753 | $60,524 | $138,016 | 2.3x |
| 8 | Vienna | 92 | 10,642 | $62,979 | $174,695 | 2.8x |
| 9 | Beckley | 91 | 17,132 | $41,277 | $113,834 | 2.8x |
| 10 | South Charleston | 91 | 13,527 | $58,756 | $153,555 | 2.6x |
| 11 | Nitro | 91 | 6,540 | $49,742 | $121,752 | 2.4x |
| 12 | Huntington | 89 | 46,637 | $39,066 | $115,258 | 3.0x |
| 13 | Oak Hill | 89 | 8,157 | $48,050 | $127,514 | 2.7x |
| 14 | Buckhannon | 88 | 5,201 | $43,621 | $152,327 | 3.5x |
| 15 | Wheeling | 87 | 26,900 | $46,516 | $133,839 | 2.9x |
| 16 | Weirton | 87 | 18,971 | $57,373 | $130,867 | 2.3x |
| 17 | Fairmont | 87 | 18,402 | $55,084 | $157,592 | 2.9x |
| 18 | Dunbar | 86 | 7,418 | $48,396 | $114,878 | 2.4x |
| 19 | Parkersburg | 85 | 29,685 | $41,921 | $134,004 | 3.2x |
| 20 | Elkins | 84 | 6,935 | $39,875 | $142,726 | 3.6x |
| 21 | Princeton | 84 | 5,833 | $41,782 | $151,800 | 3.6x |
| 22 | Clarksburg | 83 | 15,977 | $46,595 | $103,032 | 2.2x |
| 23 | New Martinsville | 83 | 5,210 | $50,235 | $135,488 | 2.7x |
| 24 | Bluefield | 82 | 9,619 | $45,854 | $101,761 | 2.2x |
| 25 | Moundsville | 82 | 8,056 | $46,070 | $117,602 | 2.6x |