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 2026, grab your family, a hot apple dumplin’, and head to a sunny spot on the Shenandoah River and read on.
$54,615 median income · 30.2% households with kids
Located in
Upshur County, West Virginia
Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, West Virginia, United States, and is located along the Buckhannon River. The population was 5,639 at the 2010 census. Buckhannon is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, held annually on the third week of May. The city is located 115 miles northeast from the capital city of Charleston and 140 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$71,167 median income · 34.4% households with kids
Located in
Putnam County, West Virginia
Hurricane is a city in Putnam County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 6,284 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$60,946 median income · 28.8% households with kids
New Martinsville is a city in Wetzel County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 5,366 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wetzel County.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$63,032 median income · 20.8% households with kids
Located in
Marion County, West Virginia
Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Marion County.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$100,022 median income · 20.0% households with kids
Located in
Harrison County, West Virginia
Bridgeport is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 8,149 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$44,727 median income · 15.6% households with kids
Located in
Monongalia County, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in and the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, situated along the banks of the Monongahela River. With a permanent population of 31,073 per the 2015 U.S. Census estimates, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia. The Morgantown metropolitan area has a population of 138,176, and is the 3rd largest in West Virginia. West Virginia University adds several thousand seasonal residents to the city and surrounding area from September through May. Morgantown is best known as the home of West Virginia University and the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit system.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$49,375 median income · 24.9% households with kids
Located in
Mercer County, West Virginia
Bluefield is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 10,447 at the 2010 census. It is the core city of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area, which has a population of 107,342.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$44,217 median income · 22.3% households with kids
Located in
Randolph County, West Virginia
Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, USA. The community was incorporated in 1890 and named in honor of Stephen Benton Elkins, a U.S. Senator from West Virginia. The population was 7,094 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County. Elkins is home to Davis and Elkins College and to the Mountain State Forest Festival, held in early October every year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$52,466 median income · 29.3% households with kids
Located in
Fayette County, West Virginia
Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area. The micropolitan area is also included in the Beckley-Oak Hill, WV Combined Statistical Area. The population was 7,730 at the 2010 census. Country singer Hank Williams was discovered to be dead while the car in which he was a passenger was stopped in Oak Hill, and Oak Hill is generally accepted to be his place of death.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$59,575 median income · 21.1% households with kids
Located in
Hancock County, West Virginia
Weirton is a city in Brooke and Hancock counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located primarily in Hancock County, the city lies in the northern portions of the state’s Northern Panhandle region. As of the 2010 census, the city’s population was 19,746. It is a principal city within the Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Area, which had a population of 124,454 residents, and by extension part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is West Virginia’s statewide median.
West Virginia statewide median: $59,608
West Virginia statewide median: $174,412
On the map
Where West Virginia’s most family-friendly cities are
Saturday Night Science
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 5,000 people. For West Virginia, that meant a total of 21 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in West Virginia.
The full plate
Best Places For Families In West Virginia
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | % Households w/ Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buckhannon | 5,116 | $54,615 | $156,489 | 30.2% |
| 2 | Hurricane | 6,855 | $71,167 | $269,184 | 34.4% |
| 3 | New Martinsville | 5,133 | $60,946 | $136,698 | 28.8% |
| 4 | Fairmont | 18,221 | $63,032 | $185,554 | 20.8% |
| 5 | Bridgeport | 9,252 | $100,022 | $297,307 | 20.0% |
| 6 | Morgantown | 30,236 | $44,727 | $280,205 | 15.6% |
| 7 | Bluefield | 9,387 | $49,375 | $105,765 | 24.9% |
| 8 | Elkins | 6,811 | $44,217 | $166,143 | 22.3% |
| 9 | Oak Hill | 7,937 | $52,466 | $150,326 | 29.3% |
| 10 | Weirton | 18,647 | $59,575 | $147,088 | 21.1% |
| 11 | Charleston | 47,421 | $65,812 | $163,657 | 22.3% |
| 12 | Beckley | 16,818 | $45,826 | $146,483 | 31.8% |
| 13 | Vienna | 10,518 | $60,388 | $183,598 | 24.0% |
| 14 | Wheeling | 26,350 | $48,590 | $148,167 | 23.1% |
| 15 | Parkersburg | 29,240 | $49,025 | $147,802 | 24.1% |
| 16 | Nitro | 6,853 | $53,848 | $140,563 | 24.8% |
| 17 | Clarksburg | 15,549 | $47,386 | $114,207 | 23.5% |
| 18 | Huntington | 45,787 | $45,100 | $139,631 | 22.1% |
| 19 | Dunbar | 7,254 | $58,379 | $123,693 | 16.9% |
| 20 | South Charleston | 13,457 | $63,884 | $167,047 | 24.7% |
| 21 | St. Albans | 10,522 | $53,972 | $148,169 | 26.1% |
Source: U.S. Census data via Saturday Night Science. 21 West Virginia cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
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, Hurricane, New Martinsville, Fairmont, Bridgeport, Morgantown, Bluefield, Elkins, Oak Hill, and Weirton. Not sold on West Virginia? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Places For Families In West Virginia FAQs
What is the best place to raise a family in West Virginia?
Buckhannon is the best place to raise a family in West Virginia for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Hurricane and New Martinsville round out the top three.
What are the best places for families in West Virginia?
The best West Virginia places to raise a family are Buckhannon, Hurricane, New Martinsville, Fairmont, Bridgeport, Morgantown, Bluefield, Elkins, Oak Hill, and Weirton. We ranked all 21 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
How do you rank family-friendly cities?
Family-friendliness blends low crime, good schools, proximity to a major city, the share of households with kids, and nearby amenities. The city that balances all of it best in West Virginia is Buckhannon.
Is Buckhannon affordable for families?
The median home in Buckhannon costs $156,489 against a median household income of $54,615. Statewide, the median home runs $174,412, so check the gap before you pack the minivan.
What is the toughest place to raise a family in West Virginia?
St. Albans lands at the bottom of the family ranking for West Virginia. Families make it work everywhere, but the crime, school, and income numbers stack against it there.
