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 2026
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 2026.
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 2026
/10
Population: 18,647
Median Income: $59,575
Median Home Price: $147,088
Median Rent: $746
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on Weirton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,133
Median Income: $60,946
Median Home Price: $136,698
Median Rent: $688
Distance to Closest Airport: 67 miles
More on New Martinsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,350
Median Income: $48,590
Median Home Price: $148,166
Median Rent: $794
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Wheeling: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,387
Median Income: $49,375
Median Home Price: $105,764
Median Rent: $804
Distance to Closest Airport: 142 miles
More on Bluefield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,855
Median Income: $71,167
Median Home Price: $269,184
Median Rent: $878
Distance to Closest Airport: 107 miles
More on Hurricane: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,811
Median Income: $44,217
Median Home Price: $166,142
Median Rent: $903
Distance to Closest Airport: 110 miles
More on Elkins: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 29,240
Median Income: $49,025
Median Home Price: $147,802
Median Rent: $785
Distance to Closest Airport: 83 miles
More on Parkersburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,252
Median Income: $100,022
Median Home Price: $297,306
Median Rent: $1,105
Distance to Closest Airport: 81 miles
More on Bridgeport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,116
Median Income: $54,615
Median Home Price: $156,488
Median Rent: $885
Distance to Closest Airport: 103 miles
More on Buckhannon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,937
Median Income: $52,466
Median Home Price: $150,325
Median Rent: $847
Distance to Closest Airport: 158 miles
More on Oak Hill: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Mountain State for 2026
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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, New Martinsville, Wheeling, Bluefield, Hurricane, Elkins, Parkersburg, Bridgeport, Buckhannon, and Oak Hill.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- South Charleston
- Huntington
- Nitro
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 | 18,647 | $59,575 | $147,088 | $746 |
| 2 | New Martinsville | 5,133 | $60,946 | $136,698 | $688 |
| 3 | Wheeling | 26,350 | $48,590 | $148,166 | $794 |
| 4 | Bluefield | 9,387 | $49,375 | $105,764 | $804 |
| 5 | Hurricane | 6,855 | $71,167 | $269,184 | $878 |
| 6 | Elkins | 6,811 | $44,217 | $166,142 | $903 |
| 7 | Parkersburg | 29,240 | $49,025 | $147,802 | $785 |
| 8 | Bridgeport | 9,252 | $100,022 | $297,306 | $1,105 |
| 9 | Buckhannon | 5,116 | $54,615 | $156,488 | $885 |
| 10 | Oak Hill | 7,937 | $52,466 | $150,325 | $847 |