The Town FilesPaden City, West Virginia
City in Wetzel County · population 2,541 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $103,200
- Household income
- $66,101
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.4
Paden City is a city of 2,541 people in Wetzel County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $103,200, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of West Virginia towns, more walkable than 70% of West Virginia towns.
- #1 in The 13 Most Affordable Small Towns in West Virginia
- #13 in 23 Small Towns in West Virginia With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #14 in The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in West Virginia
- #14 in The 21 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in West Virginia
- #23 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in West Virginia
How Paden City 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 Paden City is worth $103,200, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $66,101, which is more affordable than 90% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $719 a month. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paden City | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,200 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $719 | $811 |
| Median household income | $66,101 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Paden City
| People | Paden City | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Paden City
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 24.9 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
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paden City since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 23, 2000 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 2000.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 21, 1976.
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 Paden City itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Paden City
2 public schools with 326 students, about 9.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paden City Elementary School | PK-6 | 166 | 9.8 |
| Paden City High School | 7-12 | 160 | 9.4 |
Towns near Paden City
- New Martinsville, WV4.9 mi · 5,204 people · home $128,300
- Moundsville, WV24.3 mi · 8,093 people · home $118,600
- Shadyside, OH27.3 mi · 3,454 people · home $143,100
- Barnesville, OH29.6 mi · 4,008 people · home $114,800
- Devola, OH29.9 mi · 2,639 people · home $235,800
- Marietta, OH29.9 mi · 13,385 people · home $161,800
Paden City questions
Is Paden City, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paden City scores better for retirees than 48% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 61%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Paden City?
The median owner-occupied home in Paden City is valued at $103,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,101, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $719 a month.
What is the weather like in Paden City?
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 24.9 inches of snow.
Does Paden City get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paden City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 23, 2000. 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)