West Virginia isn’t just any Appalachian state, it’s actually one of the safest, most family friendly states in America.
Ask any West Virginian and they will tell you that there are a ton of family friendly activities everywhere you turn. The Mountain State is just one big playground for little and big kids alike. If you’re looking for a state with affordable, family friendly staycations, West Virginia is your place. There are 37 State Parks and four National Parks that dot West Virginia’s landscape. Amusement parks like Jaydee’s Family Fun Center in Inwood and Ace Adventure Park in Oak Hill will keep your family entertained for an entire weekend. And if museums and zoos are more your family’s style, check out the Oglebay Good Zoo in Wheeling, and/or the Youth Museum in Beckley.
In all family, friendly seriousness, West Virginia has some of the best schools in the country. Blue Ribbon elementary schools, gold star high schools, and colleges like West Virginia University in Morgantown have been delivering the next generation to work at major West Virginia companies like American Public Education Inc in Charles Town.
To take a closer look at the top ten family friendly places in West Virginia for 2025, grab your family, a hot apple dumplin’, and head to a sunny spot on the Shenandoah River and read on.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In West Virginia For 2025
- Buckhannon
- Martinsburg
- Keyser
- Bridgeport
- Grafton
- Fairmont
- Mullens
- Madison
- Vienna
- Oak Hill
To narrow down the most family friendly cities in West Virginia, we looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities and percent of households that currently have children. The cities also had to have a population of at least 2,000.
We ended up with 35 family friendly West Virginia places. Needless to say, it was quite difficult to narrow down the most family friendly place in West Virginia for 2025.
Drum roll… kudos to Buckhannon for taking the number one spot.
More importantly, if you care about your family living where crime is low, schools are awesome, great jobs are plentiful, and there’s a ton of stuff to do, look below at West Virginia’s top ten. And if you don’t find your favorite there, head to the bottom.
More reading about West Virginia and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia For 2025
/10
Population: 5,144
Median Income: $48,720
Average Home Price: $152,000
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 45
Closest Major City: Pittsburgh
Households with kids: 31.2%
More on Buckhannon: Data
/10
Population: 18,805
Median Income: $54,590
Average Home Price: $231,900
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 45
Closest Major City: Arlington
Households with kids: 33.2%
More on Martinsburg: Data
/10
Population: 4,870
Median Income: $47,991
Average Home Price: $141,400
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 46
Closest Major City: Pittsburgh
Households with kids: 20.9%
More on Keyser: Data
/10
Population: 9,292
Median Income: $99,936
Average Home Price: $276,700
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 43
Closest Major City: Pittsburgh
Households with kids: 26.9%
More on Bridgeport: Data
/10
Population: 4,671
Median Income: $38,872
Average Home Price: $72,700
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Pittsburgh
Households with kids: 32.7%
More on Grafton: Data
/10
Population: 18,303
Median Income: $60,791
Average Home Price: $159,100
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 70
Closest Major City: Pittsburgh
Households with kids: 23.7%
More on Fairmont: Data
/10
Population: 2,267
Median Income: $65,625
Average Home Price: $77,900
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Winston-Salem
Households with kids: 26.0%
More on Mullens:
/10
Population: 2,840
Median Income: $57,073
Average Home Price: $127,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 28.5%
More on Madison:
/10
Population: 10,575
Median Income: $65,211
Average Home Price: $155,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Columbus
Households with kids: 23.8%
More on Vienna: Data
/10
Population: 8,057
Median Income: $51,799
Average Home Price: $110,400
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Winston-Salem
Households with kids: 28.2%
More on Oak Hill: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in West Virginia anyways?
To give you the places in West Virginia that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of West Virginia, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 2,000 people. For West Virginia, that meant a total of 35 cities.
We updated this article for 2025. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in West Virginia.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in West Virginia ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in West Virginia are Buckhannon, Martinsburg, Keyser, Bridgeport, Grafton, Fairmont, Mullens, Madison, Vienna, and Oak Hill.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles West Virginia according to the data:
- Ravenswood
- Fayetteville
- St. Albans
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia
- Worst Places To Live In West Virginia
Best Places For Families In West Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buckhannon, WV | 5,144 | $48,720 | $152,000 | 49 |
| 2 | Martinsburg, WV | 18,805 | $54,590 | $231,900 | 42 |
| 3 | Keyser, WV | 4,870 | $47,991 | $141,400 | 64 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, WV | 9,292 | $99,936 | $276,700 | 37 |
| 5 | Grafton, WV | 4,671 | $38,872 | $72,700 | 63 |
| 6 | Fairmont, WV | 18,303 | $60,791 | $159,100 | 54 |
| 7 | Mullens, WV | 2,267 | $65,625 | $77,900 | 47 |
| 8 | Madison, WV | 2,840 | $57,073 | $127,200 | 37 |
| 9 | Vienna, WV | 10,575 | $65,211 | $155,500 | 34 |
| 10 | Oak Hill, WV | 8,057 | $51,799 | $110,400 | 63 |