Take me home, to the place I belong; West Virginia is almost heaven for retirees. We used data to determine which places have the most to offer retired folks in the Mountain State.
In a compact state with 37 state forests and a National Forest, you’ll never be far from nature if you choose to lay down your briefcase in West Virginia. Whether you’re hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains or driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, you won’t be sorry you retired one of the most scenic spots nationwide.
Just where are the best of the best spots for retired folks in West Virginia? Well, by and large, they’re up in the northern part of the state, with only Bluefield and Oak Hill being south of Charleston. Weirton, Moundsville, and Wheeling are all in West Virginia’s northern panhandle super close the Pennsylvania border.
So if you’ve got relatives living in Pittsburgh, they’ll be in easy visiting range.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In West Virginia For 2024
To find the best places for retirees, we looked at cities in West Virginia of at least 5,000 people, leaving us with 21 cities to rank. Then we broke down the data from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights.
What is the best place to retire in West Virginia? According to the data, Weirton is the best place to retire in West Virginia for 2024.
Crank up some Bill Withers and get those biscuits out of the oven, because we’re heading to the best places to retire in West Virginia.
Why did Weirton take the top spot? And where are Charleston and Huntington?
For more West Virginia state reading:
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In West Virginia For 2024
/10
Population: 18,971
Median Income: $57,373
Median Home Price: $130,867
Median Rent: $699
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on Weirton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,056
Median Income: $46,070
Median Home Price: $117,602
Median Rent: $831
Distance to Closest Airport: 47 miles
More on Moundsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,210
Median Income: $50,235
Median Home Price: $135,488
Median Rent: $706
Distance to Closest Airport: 67 miles
More on New Martinsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,157
Median Income: $48,050
Median Home Price: $127,514
Median Rent: $776
Distance to Closest Airport: 158 miles
More on Oak Hill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 26,900
Median Income: $46,516
Median Home Price: $133,839
Median Rent: $748
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Wheeling: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,201
Median Income: $43,621
Median Home Price: $152,327
Median Rent: $712
Distance to Closest Airport: 103 miles
More on Buckhannon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,833
Median Income: $41,782
Median Home Price: $151,800
Median Rent: $720
Distance to Closest Airport: 149 miles
More on Princeton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,255
Median Income: $96,063
Median Home Price: $269,583
Median Rent: $1,195
Distance to Closest Airport: 81 miles
More on Bridgeport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,402
Median Income: $55,084
Median Home Price: $157,592
Median Rent: $860
Distance to Closest Airport: 70 miles
More on Fairmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 30,220
Median Income: $41,103
Median Home Price: $267,332
Median Rent: $901
Distance to Closest Airport: 60 miles
More on Morgantown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Mountain State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in West Virginia to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Mountain State — 399 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 5,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 21 places from across the state.
For these 21, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 21, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Weirton, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in West Virginia.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In West Virginia Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in West Virginia goes to Weirton.
The best places to retire in West Virginia are Weirton, Moundsville, New Martinsville, Oak Hill, Wheeling, Buckhannon, Princeton, Bridgeport, Fairmont, and Morgantown.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- South Charleston
- Beckley
- Dunbar
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In West Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirton | 18,971 | $57,373 | $130,867 | $699 |
| 2 | Moundsville | 8,056 | $46,070 | $117,602 | $831 |
| 3 | New Martinsville | 5,210 | $50,235 | $135,488 | $706 |
| 4 | Oak Hill | 8,157 | $48,050 | $127,514 | $776 |
| 5 | Wheeling | 26,900 | $46,516 | $133,839 | $748 |
| 6 | Buckhannon | 5,201 | $43,621 | $152,327 | $712 |
| 7 | Princeton | 5,833 | $41,782 | $151,800 | $720 |
| 8 | Bridgeport | 9,255 | $96,063 | $269,583 | $1,195 |
| 9 | Fairmont | 18,402 | $55,084 | $157,592 | $860 |
| 10 | Morgantown | 30,220 | $41,103 | $267,332 | $901 |
