You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in West Virginia.
The median household income in Jefferson County, the richest county in West Virginia is $93,744, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 55 counties in the Mountain State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In West Virginia For 2024
What is the richest county in West Virginia? The richest county in West Virginia is Jefferson County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Mcdowell County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in West Virginia. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in West Virginia and the cheapest places to live in West Virginia.
The Richest Counties In West Virginia For 2024
1. Jefferson County
Biggest Place: Charles Town
Population: 58,043
Median Income: $93,744 (highest)
Median Home Price: $361,214 (highest)
More on Jefferson County: Data
2. Berkeley County
Biggest Place: Martinsburg
Population: 123,283
Median Income: $73,619 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $287,226 (2nd highest)
More on Berkeley County: Data
3. Morgan County
Biggest Place: Bath (Berkeley Springs)
Population: 17,237
Median Income: $61,021 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $263,104 (3rd highest)
More on Morgan County: Data
4. Putnam County
Biggest Place: Teays Valley
Population: 57,347
Median Income: $75,725 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $219,437 (6th highest)
More on Putnam County: Data
5. Monongalia County
Biggest Place: Morgantown
Population: 105,988
Median Income: $60,893 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $246,165 (4th highest)
More on Monongalia County: Data
6. Mineral County
Biggest Place: Keyser
Population: 26,957
Median Income: $64,728 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $172,720 (13th highest)
More on Mineral County: Data
7. Preston County
Biggest Place: Kingwood
Population: 34,206
Median Income: $60,136 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $162,792 (14th highest)
More on Preston County: Data
8. Hampshire County
Biggest Place: Romney
Population: 23,275
Median Income: $55,222 (18th highest)
Median Home Price: $231,190 (5th highest)
More on Hampshire County: Data
9. Marion County
Biggest Place: Fairmont
Population: 56,194
Median Income: $59,974 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $157,723 (17th highest)
More on Marion County: Data
10. Pleasants County
Biggest Place: St. Marys
Population: 7,622
Median Income: $59,666 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $151,164 (19th highest)
More on Pleasants County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which West Virginia county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in West Virginia, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in West Virginia for each of the criteria from one to 55, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In West Virginia.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Mountain State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in West Virginia. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In West Virginia For 2024
Living in West Virginia can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in West Virginia are Jefferson County, Berkeley County, Morgan County, Putnam County, Monongalia County, Mineral County, Preston County, Hampshire County, Marion County, and Pleasants County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in West Virginia according to the data:
- Mcdowell County
- Mingo County
- Calhoun County
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Safest Places In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Richest Cities In West Virginia
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In West Virginia
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 58,043 | $93,744 | $361,214 |
| 2 | Berkeley County | 123,283 | $73,619 | $287,226 |
| 3 | Morgan County | 17,237 | $61,021 | $263,104 |
| 4 | Putnam County | 57,347 | $75,725 | $219,437 |
| 5 | Monongalia County | 105,988 | $60,893 | $246,165 |
| 6 | Mineral County | 26,957 | $64,728 | $172,720 |
| 7 | Preston County | 34,206 | $60,136 | $162,792 |
| 8 | Hampshire County | 23,275 | $55,222 | $231,190 |
| 9 | Marion County | 56,194 | $59,974 | $157,723 |
| 10 | Pleasants County | 7,622 | $59,666 | $151,164 |
| 11 | Tucker County | 6,747 | $54,053 | $189,588 |
| 12 | Jackson County | 27,868 | $55,173 | $176,051 |
| 13 | Taylor County | 16,602 | $52,946 | $182,660 |
| 14 | Harrison County | 65,862 | $56,184 | $147,320 |
| 15 | Wood County | 84,272 | $54,350 | $159,901 |
| 16 | Pendleton County | 6,156 | $52,458 | $181,621 |
| 17 | Grant County | 11,034 | $52,877 | $161,410 |
| 18 | Ohio County | 42,224 | $55,521 | $140,036 |
| 19 | Hancock County | 28,907 | $57,515 | $128,958 |
| 20 | Kanawha County | 179,895 | $55,226 | $137,519 |
| 21 | Hardy County | 14,249 | $49,205 | $208,906 |
| 22 | Marshall County | 30,509 | $58,129 | $123,203 |
| 23 | Monroe County | 12,438 | $52,392 | $146,625 |
| 24 | Mason County | 25,488 | $53,058 | $132,067 |
| 25 | Doddridge County | 7,847 | $56,587 | $120,363 |
| 26 | Randolph County | 28,005 | $51,186 | $143,424 |
| 27 | Greenbrier County | 32,995 | $45,519 | $175,528 |
| 28 | Upshur County | 23,875 | $49,663 | $147,717 |
| 29 | Tyler County | 8,336 | $59,167 | $109,158 |
| 30 | Lewis County | 16,920 | $50,552 | $138,706 |
| 31 | Wayne County | 38,933 | $52,694 | $123,535 |
| 32 | Cabell County | 93,965 | $48,944 | $137,820 |
| 33 | Boone County | 21,705 | $56,182 | $88,148 |
| 34 | Brooke County | 22,349 | $51,963 | $120,145 |
| 35 | Pocahontas County | 7,940 | $41,680 | $152,575 |
| 36 | Raleigh County | 74,303 | $47,975 | $136,779 |
| 37 | Gilmer County | 7,444 | $51,552 | $115,811 |
| 38 | Wirt County | 5,202 | $52,776 | $107,894 |
| 39 | Mercer County | 59,530 | $46,409 | $127,983 |
| 40 | Wetzel County | 14,431 | $50,715 | $115,995 |
| 41 | Nicholas County | 24,624 | $48,826 | $124,033 |
| 42 | Lincoln County | 20,410 | $50,985 | $109,421 |
| 43 | Fayette County | 40,545 | $50,090 | $111,415 |
| 44 | Summers County | 11,985 | $42,991 | $125,268 |
| 45 | Barbour County | 15,527 | $44,341 | $124,168 |
| 46 | Braxton County | 12,505 | $42,245 | $124,628 |
| 47 | Ritchie County | 8,507 | $48,973 | $110,797 |
| 48 | Roane County | 14,027 | $41,299 | $119,158 |
| 49 | Wyoming County | 21,237 | $44,510 | $49,957 |
| 50 | Webster County | 8,362 | $43,409 | $65,525 |
| 51 | Logan County | 32,350 | $42,194 | $90,174 |
| 52 | Clay County | 8,049 | $41,530 | $94,582 |
| 53 | Calhoun County | 6,279 | $39,031 | $99,235 |
| 54 | Mingo County | 23,466 | $38,305 | $61,108 |
| 55 | Mcdowell County | 18,911 | $28,235 | $29,596 |