The Town FilesKeyser, West Virginia
City in Mineral County · population 4,864 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,000
- Household income
- $46,955
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 38.3
Keyser is a city of 4,864 people in Mineral County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $143,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of West Virginia towns, better for cycling than 98% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 92% of West Virginia towns.
How Keyser 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 Keyser is worth $143,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $46,955, which is more affordable than 29% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $648 a month. 51.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Keyser | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $648 | $811 |
| Median household income | $46,955 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 51.4% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Keyser
| People | Keyser | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.8% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 17.1 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Keyser
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.5 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keyser since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 2, 1998 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 2, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 22, 2008.
Severe weather in Mineral County since 1996
Mineral County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4378: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3358: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Mineral County
Mineral County had 8,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,612 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Keyser itself the ACS puts it at 12.9%.
Public schools in Keyser
7 public schools with 2,124 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyser Middle School | 5-8 | 689 | 13.8 |
| Keyser High School | 9-12 | 662 | 16.6 |
| Keyser Primary School | PK-4 | 556 | 11.3 |
| Fountain Primary School | PK-4 | 112 | 12.4 |
| New Creek Primary School | PK-4 | 97 | 10.8 |
| Mineral County Alternative Program | 1-12 | 8 | 2.0 |
| Mineral County Technical Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Keyser
- Cresaptown, MD13.2 mi · 5,442 people · home $142,600
- Frostburg, MD14.9 mi · 7,027 people · home $181,700
- La Vale, MD18.1 mi · 4,201 people · home $170,800
- Cumberland, MD18.9 mi · 19,076 people · home $123,200
- Moorefield, WV25.7 mi · 2,524 people · home $125,000
Keyser questions
Is Keyser, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Keyser scores better for retirees than 92% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 26%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Keyser?
The median owner-occupied home in Keyser is valued at $143,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,955, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $648 a month.
What is the weather like in Keyser?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.5 inches of snow.
Does Keyser get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keyser since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 2, 1998. 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)