The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in West Virginia

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 49 towns of 500–10,000 people in West Virginia. #1 is Pinch, WV.

1. 25Dunbar, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 60% of West Virginia towns

   Dunbar is a city of 7,480 people in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It also ranks more vibrant than 99% of West Virginia towns and more walkable than 96% of West Virginia towns.

   7,480 people · Kanawha County · median home $119,600 · income $58,379 · Jan low 23°F · 32 in snow

   Full Dunbar, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Cross Lanes, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 63% 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 →

3. 23Culloden, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 66% of West Virginia towns

   Culloden is a community of 3,016 people in Cabell County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for families than 82% of West Virginia towns.

   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 →

4. 22Follansbee, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 67% of West Virginia towns

   Follansbee is a city of 2,848 people in Brooke County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of West Virginia towns and more of a college town than 94% of West Virginia towns.

   2,848 people · Brooke County · median home $133,900 · income $58,371 · Jan low 19°F · 25 in snow

   Full Follansbee, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Williamson, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 68% of West Virginia towns

   Williamson is a city of 3,083 people in Mingo County, West Virginia. It also ranks hipper than 84% of West Virginia towns and better for first-time buyers than 75% of West Virginia towns.

   3,083 people · Mingo County · median home $89,600 · income $21,875 · Jan low 26°F · 13 in snow

   Full Williamson, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Brookhaven, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 69% of West Virginia towns

   Brookhaven is a community of 5,707 people in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for families than 96% of West Virginia towns and more upscale than 95% 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 →

7. 19Hurricane, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 71% 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 better for families than 90% 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 →

8. 18Blennerhassett, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 72% 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 →

9. 17Shady Spring, West Virginia

   Better for retirees than 74% 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 families than 92% 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 →

10. 16Hooverson Heights, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 75% of West Virginia towns

    Hooverson Heights is a community of 2,582 people in Brooke County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of West Virginia towns and more of a college town than 87% of West Virginia towns.

    2,582 people · Brooke County · median home $154,600 · income $60,781 · Jan low 19°F · 25 in snow

    Full Hooverson Heights, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Philippi, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 78% of West Virginia towns

    Philippi is a city of 2,929 people in Barbour County, West Virginia. It also ranks more of a college town than 98% of West Virginia towns and better for first-time buyers than 87% of West Virginia towns.

    2,929 people · Barbour County · median home $114,500 · income $45,879 · Jan low 20°F · 47 in snow

    Full Philippi, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Pleasant Valley, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 78% 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 →

13. 13New Martinsville, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 81% of West Virginia towns

    New Martinsville is a city of 5,204 people in Wetzel County, West Virginia. It also ranks 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 →

14. 12Charles Town, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 83% 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 →

15. 11Bridgeport, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 83% 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 →

16. 10Bethlehem, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 86% 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 families than 97% 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 →

17. 9Point Pleasant, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 86% of West Virginia towns

    Point Pleasant is a city of 4,070 people in Mason County, West Virginia. It also ranks easier by car than 89% of West Virginia towns and hipper than 81% of West Virginia towns.

    4,070 people · Mason County · median home $118,000 · income $37,563 · Jan low 23°F · 15 in snow

    Full Point Pleasant, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Summersville, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 87% of West Virginia towns

    Summersville is a city of 3,431 people in Nicholas County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of West Virginia towns and easier by car than 88% of West Virginia towns.

    3,431 people · Nicholas County · median home $230,000 · income $56,571 · Jan low 21°F · 68 in snow

    Full Summersville, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Kingwood, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 88% of West Virginia towns

    Kingwood is a city of 2,980 people in Preston County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of West Virginia towns and more upscale than 70% of West Virginia towns.

    2,980 people · Preston County · median home $162,000 · income $71,154 · Jan low 18°F · 171 in snow

    Full Kingwood, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Cheat Lake, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 90% 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 families than 99% 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 →

21. 5Keyser, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 92% of West Virginia towns

    Keyser is a city of 4,864 people in Mineral County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of West Virginia towns and better for cycling than 98% of West Virginia towns.

    4,864 people · Mineral County · median home $143,000 · income $46,955 · Jan low 21°F · 34 in snow

    Full Keyser, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Lewisburg, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 95% of West Virginia towns

    Lewisburg is a city of 3,922 people in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of West Virginia towns and hipper than 98% of West Virginia towns.

    3,922 people · Greenbrier County · median home $334,900 · income $49,560 · Jan low 20°F · 30 in snow

    Full Lewisburg, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Williamstown, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 96% 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 →

24. 2Ripley, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 96% of West Virginia towns

    Ripley is a city of 3,079 people in Jackson County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $121,800 (typical West Virginia town: $125,000).

    3,079 people · Jackson County · median home $121,800 · income $41,518 · Jan low 22°F · 12 in snow

    Full Ripley, West Virginia profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Pinch, West Virginia

    Better for retirees than 97% of West Virginia towns

    Pinch is a community of 2,914 people in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It also ranks more upscale than 95% of West Virginia towns and better for families than 72% 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 →

Price vs ranking

More West Virginia rankings

• The 13 Most Affordable Small Towns in West Virginia
• The 18 Best Small Towns for Families 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 to Retire in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio