The Town Files

Jefferson County, West Virginia

59,260 people. The median home is worth $350,800 (typical West Virginia town: $125,000) and the median household earns $98,806.

Towns in Jefferson County

Towns in Jefferson County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Charles Town6,534$377,700$89,26338.5
Ranson corporation5,433$242,700$89,52339.3
Shannondale3,487$293,600$80,00042.4

People and housing

Jefferson CountyTypical West Virginia town
Median home value$350,800$125,000
Median rent$1,108$811
Median household income$98,806$52,093
Median age41.043.6
Bachelor's degree or higher33.9%18.6%
Below the poverty line8.7%18.6%

Jobs and pay

17,087 jobs in 2024, average pay $61,812 a year.

Largest industries in Jefferson CountyHotels & restaurants3,216 jobs · $30,210Retail1,972 jobs · $32,561Health care & social assistan…1,595 jobs · $72,702Professional & technical serv…1,087 jobs · $93,090Education678 jobs · $54,751Administrative & support638 jobs · $62,569
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Jefferson County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 807 storm events in Jefferson County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Jefferson County by type since 1996Hail55Heat32Flood66Drought13Dense Fog61High Wind14Strong Wind17Frost/Freeze38Winter Storm60Excessive Heat14
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Jefferson County has been included in 19 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3639: Severe Winter Storm
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3450: Covid-19
July 12, 2018Severe StormDR-4378: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
October 29, 2012HurricaneEM-3358: Hurricane Sandy
July 23, 2012Severe StormDR-4071: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).