The Town FilesMartinsburg, West Virginia
City in Berkeley County · population 18,777 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,000
- Household income
- $59,555
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.4
Martinsburg is a city of 18,777 people in Berkeley County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $240,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 98% of West Virginia towns, more walkable than 97% of West Virginia towns.
How Martinsburg 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 Martinsburg is worth $240,000, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $59,555, which is more affordable than 8% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,150 a month. 47.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Martinsburg | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $1,150 | $811 |
| Median household income | $59,555 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 47.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Martinsburg
| People | Martinsburg | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Martinsburg
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martinsburg since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 17, 2004 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 26, 2002.
Severe weather in Berkeley County since 1996
Berkeley County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3358: Hurricane Sandy |
| July 23, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4071: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Berkeley County
Berkeley County had 38,427 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,976 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Martinsburg itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Martinsburg
18 public schools with 11,050 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Mills High School | 9-12 | 1,547 | 16.1 |
| Martinsburg High School | 9-12 | 1,466 | 15.0 |
| Spring Mills Middle School | 6-8 | 930 | 15.0 |
| Potomack Intermediate School | 3-5 | 874 | 16.8 |
| Martinsburg South Middle School | 6-8 | 746 | 12.2 |
| Berkeley Heights Elementary School | PK-2 | 700 | 20.0 |
| Orchard View Intermediate School | 3-5 | 654 | 13.1 |
| Martinsburg North Middle School | 6-8 | 639 | 10.5 |
| Eagle School Intermediate | 3-5 | 626 | 14.6 |
| Spring Mills Primary | PK-2 | 540 | 17.4 |
| Opequon Elementary School | PK-2 | 435 | 12.8 |
| Valley View Elementary School | PK-2 | 433 | 14.4 |
Towns near Martinsburg
- Inwood, WV8.3 mi · 3,426 people · home $268,400
- Ranson corporation, WV11.4 mi · 5,433 people · home $242,700
- Charles Town, WV14.4 mi · 6,534 people · home $377,700
- St. James, MD14.6 mi · 4,757 people · home $409,000
- Halfway, MD15.5 mi · 11,896 people · home $253,300
- Boonsboro, MD17.4 mi · 3,799 people · home $352,400
- Hagerstown, MD18.4 mi · 43,527 people · home $224,500
- Shannondale, WV19.2 mi · 3,487 people · home $293,600
Martinsburg questions
Is Martinsburg, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Martinsburg scores better for retirees than 12% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 0%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Martinsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Martinsburg is valued at $240,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,555, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,150 a month.
What is the weather like in Martinsburg?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does Martinsburg get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Martinsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 17, 2004. 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)