The Town FilesWilliamson, West Virginia
City in Mingo County · population 3,083 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,600
- Household income
- $21,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.7
Williamson is a city of 3,083 people in Mingo County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $89,600, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks hipper than 84% of West Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of West Virginia towns, more walkable than 74% of West Virginia towns.
- #2 in 23 Small Towns in West Virginia With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #5 in 20 Small Towns in West Virginia With the Mildest Winters
- #15 in The 21 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in West Virginia
- #19 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in West Virginia
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in West Virginia
- #32 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Rent
How Williamson 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 Williamson is worth $89,600, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $21,875, which is more affordable than 7% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $489 a month. 46.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Williamson | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,600 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $489 | $811 |
| Median household income | $21,875 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 46.3% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Williamson
| People | Williamson | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.4% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 49.1% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Williamson
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.8°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.1 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Williamson since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Mingo County since 1996
Mingo County has been included in 36 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 20, 2021 | Flood | DR-4605: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Mingo County
Mingo County had 4,951 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,807 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Williamson itself the ACS puts it at 13.6%.
Public schools in Williamson
3 public schools with 1,227 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson Pk8 | PK-8 | 502 | 13.9 |
| Lenore Pk8 School | PK-8 | 390 | 13.9 |
| Tug Valley High School | 9-12 | 335 | 12.4 |
Towns near Williamson
- Pikeville, KY19.6 mi · 7,754 people · home $263,800
- Prestonsburg, KY27.1 mi · 3,681 people · home $161,300
Williamson questions
Is Williamson, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Williamson scores better for retirees than 68% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 18%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Williamson?
The median owner-occupied home in Williamson is valued at $89,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $21,875, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $489 a month.
What is the weather like in Williamson?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 25.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 13.1 inches of snow.
Does Williamson get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Williamson in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)