The Town FilesKenova, West Virginia
City in Wayne County · population 3,033 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,000
- Household income
- $53,683
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.6
Kenova is a city of 3,033 people in Wayne County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $109,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better transit than 97% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 96% of West Virginia towns, more walkable than 95% of West Virginia towns.
How Kenova 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 Kenova is worth $109,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $53,683, which is more affordable than 76% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $647 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kenova | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $647 | $811 |
| Median household income | $53,683 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kenova
| People | Kenova | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 10.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Kenova
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 24.6°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.2 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenova since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1965 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 23, 1962.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| 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 |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 20, 2021 | Flood | DR-4605: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 13, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4603: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 8,494 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,886 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Kenova itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Kenova
3 public schools with 1,280 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceredo-Kenova Elementary | PK-5 | 621 | 16.8 |
| Buffalo Elementary School | PK-5 | 427 | 14.7 |
| Buffalo Middle School | 6-8 | 232 | 10.1 |
Towns near Kenova
- South Point, OH1.4 mi · 3,836 people · home $184,000
- Ashland, KY5.2 mi · 21,625 people · home $125,000
- Westwood, KY7.5 mi · 4,387 people · home $92,200
- Huntington, WV8.0 mi · 46,842 people · home $127,200
- Russell, KY9.8 mi · 3,744 people · home $211,900
- Ironton, OH10.4 mi · 10,571 people · home $106,700
- Flatwoods, KY11.6 mi · 7,325 people · home $114,600
- Pea Ridge, WV14.2 mi · 6,602 people · home $188,500
Kenova questions
Is Kenova, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kenova scores better for retirees than 39% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 13%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Kenova?
The median owner-occupied home in Kenova is valued at $109,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,683, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $647 a month.
What is the weather like in Kenova?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 24.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 6.2 inches of snow.
Does Kenova get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenova since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1965. 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)