The Town FilesBeckley, West Virginia
City in Raleigh County · population 17,286 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,000
- Household income
- $45,826
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 42.3
Beckley is a city of 17,286 people in Raleigh County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $158,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of West Virginia towns, better for cycling than 89% of West Virginia towns, more walkable than 86% of West Virginia towns.
How Beckley ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Beckley is worth $158,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $45,826, which is more affordable than 17% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $869 a month. 55.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Beckley | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $869 | $811 |
| Median household income | $45,826 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 55.4% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Beckley
| People | Beckley | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.9% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Beckley
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.4 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beckley since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 4, 1974 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 1980.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 23, 1962.
Severe weather in Raleigh County since 1996
Raleigh County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 26, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4861: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| March 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4210: Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Raleigh County
Raleigh County had 32,322 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,223 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Beckley itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Beckley
11 public schools with 4,138 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodrow Wilson High School | 9-12 | 1,265 | 18.6 |
| Beckley-Stratton Middle School | 6-8 | 634 | 10.7 |
| Park Middle School | 6-8 | 411 | 12.1 |
| Stratton Elementary | PK-5 | 328 | 13.7 |
| Crescent Elementary | PK-5 | 292 | 14.6 |
| Beckley Elementary | PK-5 | 282 | 11.8 |
| Hollywood Elementary | PK-5 | 246 | 13.7 |
| Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary | PK-5 | 246 | 11.2 |
| Stanaford Elementary School | PK-5 | 224 | 9.7 |
| Maxwell Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 210 | 14.0 |
| Academy Of Careers And Technology | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Beckley
- Shady Spring, WV6.2 mi · 3,169 people · home $188,900
- Oak Hill, WV13.9 mi · 8,179 people · home $118,700
- Fayetteville, WV20.3 mi · 2,887 people · home $184,000
- Princeton, WV28.2 mi · 5,872 people · home $120,300
Beckley questions
Is Beckley, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Beckley scores better for retirees than 4% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 2%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Beckley?
The median owner-occupied home in Beckley is valued at $158,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,826, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $869 a month.
What is the weather like in Beckley?
July highs average 79.1°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.4 inches of snow.
Does Beckley get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Beckley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 4, 1974. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)