The Town FilesNew Martinsville, West Virginia
City in Wetzel County · population 5,204 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,300
- Household income
- $60,946
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.5
New Martinsville is a city of 5,204 people in Wetzel County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $128,300, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for retirees than 81% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 78% of West Virginia towns.
How New Martinsville 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 New Martinsville is worth $128,300, close to the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $60,946, which is more affordable than 70% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $688 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Martinsville | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,300 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $688 | $811 |
| Median household income | $60,946 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in New Martinsville
| People | New Martinsville | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 86.7% |
Weather in New Martinsville
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 20.4°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Martinsville since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on April 28, 2002 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Wetzel County since 1996
Wetzel County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Flood | DR-4932: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Wetzel County
Wetzel County had 4,878 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,398 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in New Martinsville itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in New Martinsville
3 public schools with 1,114 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Martinsville School | PK-8 | 812 | 11.6 |
| Magnolia High School | 9-12 | 302 | 10.8 |
| Wetzel County Technical Education Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near New Martinsville
- Paden City, WV4.9 mi · 2,541 people · home $103,200
- Moundsville, WV20.2 mi · 8,093 people · home $118,600
- Shadyside, OH23.3 mi · 3,454 people · home $143,100
- Bellaire, OH26.4 mi · 3,870 people · home $85,400
- Barnesville, OH28.9 mi · 4,008 people · home $114,800
- Bethlehem, WV29.3 mi · 2,605 people · home $200,000
- St. Clairsville, OH30.0 mi · 5,096 people · home $199,000
New Martinsville questions
Is New Martinsville, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Martinsville scores better for retirees than 81% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 56%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in New Martinsville?
The median owner-occupied home in New Martinsville is valued at $128,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,946, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $688 a month.
What is the weather like in New Martinsville?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 20.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does New Martinsville get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Martinsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on April 28, 2002. 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)