The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in West Virginia
Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 49 towns of 500–10,000 people in West Virginia. #1 is Cheat Lake, WV.
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18Fayetteville, West Virginia
Better for families than 60% of West Virginia towns
Fayetteville is a town of 2,887 people in Fayette County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $184,000 (typical West Virginia town: $125,000).
2,887 people · Fayette County · median home $184,000 · income $67,623 · Jan low 23°F · 56 in snow
Full Fayetteville, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
17Charles Town, West Virginia
Better for families than 61% of West Virginia towns
Charles Town is a city of 6,534 people in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of West Virginia towns and better for cycling than 98% of West Virginia towns.
6,534 people · Jefferson County · median home $377,700 · income $89,263 · Jan low 24°F · 23 in snow
Full Charles Town, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
16Cross Lanes, West Virginia
Better for families than 61% of West Virginia towns
Cross Lanes is a community of 9,727 people in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 87% of West Virginia towns and better transit than 80% of West Virginia towns.
9,727 people · Kanawha County · median home $153,800 · income $63,537 · Jan low 20°F · 20 in snow
Full Cross Lanes, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
15Blennerhassett, West Virginia
Better for families than 64% of West Virginia towns
Blennerhassett is a community of 3,118 people in Wood County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of West Virginia towns and more upscale than 88% of West Virginia towns.
3,118 people · Wood County · median home $179,800 · income $88,487 · Jan low 24°F · 11 in snow
Full Blennerhassett, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
14Paden City, West Virginia
Better for families than 65% of West Virginia towns
Paden City is a city of 2,541 people in Wetzel County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of West Virginia towns and more walkable than 70% of West Virginia towns.
2,541 people · Wetzel County · median home $103,200 · income $66,101 · Jan low 20°F · 25 in snow
Full Paden City, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
13New Martinsville, West Virginia
Better for families than 65% of West Virginia towns
New Martinsville is a city of 5,204 people in Wetzel County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for retirees than 81% of West Virginia towns and more vibrant than 78% of West Virginia towns.
5,204 people · Wetzel County · median home $128,300 · income $60,946 · Jan low 20°F · 24 in snow
Full New Martinsville, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
12Pinch, West Virginia
Better for families than 72% of West Virginia towns
Pinch is a community of 2,914 people in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for retirees than 97% of West Virginia towns and more upscale than 95% of West Virginia towns.
2,914 people · Kanawha County · median home $221,500 · income $76,741 · Jan low 26°F · 32 in snow
Full Pinch, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
11Pleasant Valley, West Virginia
Better for families than 73% of West Virginia towns
Pleasant Valley is a city of 3,498 people in Marion County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 90% of West Virginia towns and more of a college town than 89% of West Virginia towns.
3,498 people · Marion County · median home $213,600 · income $67,635 · Jan low 24°F · 27 in snow
Full Pleasant Valley, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
10Culloden, West Virginia
Better for families than 82% of West Virginia towns
Culloden is a community of 3,016 people in Cabell County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $197,800 (typical West Virginia town: $125,000).
3,016 people · Cabell County · median home $197,800 · income $73,318 · Jan low 23°F · 15 in snow
Full Culloden, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
9Bridgeport, West Virginia
Better for families than 84% of West Virginia towns
Bridgeport is a city of 9,336 people in Harrison County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 99% of West Virginia towns and better for cycling than 96% of West Virginia towns.
9,336 people · Harrison County · median home $291,600 · income $100,022 · Jan low 25°F · 24 in snow
Full Bridgeport, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
8Inwood, West Virginia
Better for families than 89% of West Virginia towns
Inwood is a community of 3,426 people in Berkeley County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 83% of West Virginia towns and more upscale than 78% of West Virginia towns.
3,426 people · Berkeley County · median home $268,400 · income $84,286 · Jan low 24°F · 23 in snow
Full Inwood, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
7Hurricane, West Virginia
Better for families than 90% of West Virginia towns
Hurricane is a city of 6,961 people in Putnam County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 92% of West Virginia towns and more walkable than 84% of West Virginia towns.
6,961 people · Putnam County · median home $210,500 · income $71,167 · Jan low 24°F · 11 in snow
Full Hurricane, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
6Shady Spring, West Virginia
Better for families than 92% of West Virginia towns
Shady Spring is a community of 3,169 people in Raleigh County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 94% of West Virginia towns and better for retirees than 74% of West Virginia towns.
3,169 people · Raleigh County · median home $188,900 · income $67,407 · Jan low 24°F · 56 in snow
Full Shady Spring, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
5Williamstown, West Virginia
Better for families than 95% of West Virginia towns
Williamstown is a city of 2,997 people in Wood County, West Virginia. It also ranks hipper than 99% of West Virginia towns and more upscale than 97% of West Virginia towns.
2,997 people · Wood County · median home $182,500 · income $89,013 · Jan low 23°F · 22 in snow
Full Williamstown, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
4Shannondale, West Virginia
Better for families than 95% of West Virginia towns
Shannondale is a community of 3,487 people in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of West Virginia towns and more upscale than 90% of West Virginia towns.
3,487 people · Jefferson County · median home $293,600 · income $80,000 · Jan low 25°F · 22 in snow
Full Shannondale, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
3Brookhaven, West Virginia
Better for families than 96% of West Virginia towns
Brookhaven is a community of 5,707 people in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of West Virginia towns and better transit than 88% of West Virginia towns.
5,707 people · Monongalia County · median home $261,000 · income $88,438 · Jan low 24°F · 14 in snow
Full Brookhaven, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
2Bethlehem, West Virginia
Better for families than 97% of West Virginia towns
Bethlehem is a village of 2,605 people in Ohio County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of West Virginia towns and better for retirees than 86% of West Virginia towns.
2,605 people · Ohio County · median home $200,000 · income $83,409 · Jan low 22°F · 15 in snow
Full Bethlehem, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns. -
1Cheat Lake, West Virginia
Better for families than 99% of West Virginia towns
Cheat Lake is a community of 9,930 people in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of West Virginia towns and better for retirees than 90% of West Virginia towns.
9,930 people · Monongalia County · median home $367,600 · income $117,014 · Jan low 24°F · 14 in snow
Full Cheat Lake, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, percentile vs West Virginia towns.
Price vs ranking
More West Virginia rankings
- The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in West Virginia
- The 13 Most Affordable Small Towns in West Virginia
- 20 Small Towns in West Virginia With the Mildest Winters
- The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in West Virginia
- 23 Small Towns in West Virginia With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- The 21 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in West Virginia
Same ranking, other places
- The 50 Best Small Towns for Families in America
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Pennsylvania
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New York
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Michigan
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Texas
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Jersey
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Florida
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Wisconsin
- The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Ohio
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)