You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in West Virginia. Best sururbs in West Virginia. Best counties in West Virginia.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Mountain State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in West Virginia based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in West Virginia ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In West Virginia For 2025
- Williamstown
- Glen Dale
- Bethlehem
- Shepherd
- Star City
- Poca
- Eleanor
- Westover
- Athens
- Bethany
- Mabscott
- Blennerhassett
- Tornado
- Boaz
- Bolivar
What’s the best small town in West Virginia? Williamstown is the best small town in West Virginia based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Williamstown, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Mountain State check out:
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia
The 15 Best Small Towns In West Virginia For 2025
1. Williamstown
/10
Population: 2,977
Median Income: $75,577 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $164,100 (32nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
2. Glen Dale
/10
Population: 1,517
Median Income: $87,955 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $200,500 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7%
3. Bethlehem
/10
Population: 2,568
Median Income: $87,500 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $203,000 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
4. Shepherd
/10
Population: 1,399
Median Income: $62,500 (32nd Best)
Median Home Value: $474,500 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 13.2%
5. Star City
/10
Population: 1,894
Median Income: $62,031 (34th Best)
Median Home Value: $256,800 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
6. Poca
Population: 1,056
Median Income: $83,750 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $178,500 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%
7. Eleanor
/10
Population: 1,655
Median Income: $74,211 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $236,400 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%
8. Westover
/10
Population: 4,007
Median Income: $58,333 (45th Best)
Median Home Value: $179,500 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.1%
9. Athens
Population: 1,156
Median Income: $62,292 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $156,800 (35th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 8.2%
10. Bethany
/10
Population: 1,066
Median Income: $61,250 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $113,600 (69th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.4%
11. Mabscott
/10
Population: 1,488
Median Income: $58,125 (47th Best)
Median Home Value: $119,100 (62nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%
12. Blennerhassett
/10
Population: 3,229
Median Income: $85,619 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $173,900 (28th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
13. Tornado
Population: 1,101
Median Income: $81,875 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $156,500 (36th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.5%
14. Boaz
/10
Population: 1,374
Median Income: $92,708 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $227,400 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
15. Bolivar
/10
Population: 1,317
Median Income: $81,641 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $253,700 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In West Virginia
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in West Virginia possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 113 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 113, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in West Virginia. Top of that list — Williamstown.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in West Virginia.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in West Virginia are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in West Virginia are Williamstown, Glen Dale, Bethlehem, Shepherd, Star City, Poca, Eleanor, Westover, Athens, and Bethany.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in West Virginia:
- Williamson
- Richwood
- Despard
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia
- Safest Places In West Virginia
- Worst Places To Live In West Virginia
Best Small Towns In West Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williamstown, WV | 2,977 | $75,577 | 2.4% | |
| 2 | Glen Dale, WV | 1,517 | $87,955 | 3.7% | |
| 3 | Bethlehem, WV | 2,568 | $87,500 | 3.4% | |
| 4 | Shepherd, WV | 1,399 | $62,500 | 13.2% | |
| 5 | Star City, WV | 1,894 | $62,031 | 1.8% | |
| 6 | Poca, WV | 1,056 | $83,750 | 1.1% | |
| 7 | Eleanor, WV | 1,655 | $74,211 | 0.8% | |
| 8 | Westover, WV | 4,007 | $58,333 | 1.1% | |
| 9 | Athens, WV | 1,156 | $62,292 | 8.2% | |
| 10 | Bethany, WV | 1,066 | $61,250 | 4.4% | |
| 11 | Mabscott, WV | 1,488 | $58,125 | 0.7% | |
| 12 | Blennerhassett, WV | 3,229 | $85,619 | 6.3% | |
| 13 | Tornado, WV | 1,101 | $81,875 | 0.5% | |
| 14 | Boaz, WV | 1,374 | $92,708 | 1.5% | |
| 15 | Bolivar, WV | 1,317 | $81,641 | 5.5% | |
| 16 | Culloden, WV | 3,158 | $89,519 | 3.0% | |
| 17 | Pleasant Valley, WV | 3,494 | $58,456 | 2.0% | |
| 18 | Barrackville, WV | 1,362 | $81,250 | 4.3% | |
| 19 | Shenandoah Junction, WV | 1,339 | $109,048 | 0.0% | |
| 20 | Follansbee, WV | 2,790 | $52,974 | 4.4% | |
| 21 | Pinch, WV | 3,893 | $72,406 | 2.0% | |
| 22 | Mineralwells, WV | 2,489 | $68,940 | 1.8% | |
| 23 | Barboursville, WV | 4,394 | $59,531 | 2.3% | |
| 24 | Lewisburg, WV | 3,871 | $52,798 | 0.6% | |
| 25 | Falling Waters, WV | 2,384 | $87,632 | 10.9% | |
| 26 | Winfield, WV | 2,538 | $89,917 | 3.5% | |
| 27 | Nutter Fort, WV | 1,890 | $62,917 | 3.4% | |
| 28 | Prosperity, WV | 1,575 | $82,637 | 11.0% | |
| 29 | Shinnston, WV | 2,198 | $63,750 | 2.4% | |
| 30 | Milton, WV | 2,773 | $54,135 | 2.6% | |
| 31 | Belle, WV | 1,537 | $74,200 | 12.8% | |
| 32 | St. Marys, WV | 2,178 | $59,315 | 2.5% | |
| 33 | Kingwood, WV | 2,980 | $67,411 | 4.7% | |
| 34 | Kenova, WV | 2,977 | $53,438 | 1.2% | |
| 35 | White Hall, WV | 1,141 | $72,000 | 8.5% | |
| 36 | Lubeck, WV | 1,412 | $69,616 | 10.4% | |
| 37 | Point Pleasant, WV | 4,009 | $40,837 | 4.0% | |
| 38 | Hamlin, WV | 1,173 | $56,583 | 4.5% | |
| 39 | Stonewood, WV | 2,273 | $44,967 | 10.7% | |
| 40 | Shady Spring, WV | 3,455 | $70,792 | 6.5% | |
| 41 | Keyser, WV | 4,870 | $47,991 | 6.5% | |
| 42 | Brush Fork, WV | 1,213 | $51,364 | 0.0% | |
| 43 | Petersburg, WV | 3,172 | $48,286 | 5.9% | |
| 44 | Paden City, WV | 2,529 | $53,871 | 4.7% | |
| 45 | Summersville, WV | 3,397 | $52,321 | 9.4% | |
| 46 | Hooverson Heights, WV | 2,156 | $58,681 | 4.7% | |
| 47 | White Sulphur Springs, WV | 2,646 | $43,388 | 4.9% | |
| 48 | Inwood, WV | 2,605 | $82,267 | 6.6% | |
| 49 | Daniels, WV | 1,542 | $52,100 | 4.8% | |
| 50 | New Haven, WV | 1,735 | $56,500 | 0.3% | |
| 51 | Chesapeake, WV | 1,615 | $60,526 | 4.7% | |
| 52 | Stanaford, WV | 1,327 | $46,944 | 4.5% | |
| 53 | Mannington, WV | 1,679 | $48,750 | 2.4% | |
| 54 | Man, WV | 1,234 | $57,778 | 11.8% | |
| 55 | Washington, WV | 1,129 | $44,882 | 8.4% | |
| 56 | Chapmanville, WV | 1,005 | $35,655 | 0.0% | |
| 57 | Chester, WV | 2,302 | $63,750 | 11.8% | |
| 58 | Madison, WV | 2,840 | $57,073 | 5.2% | |
| 59 | Ravenswood, WV | 3,846 | $45,392 | 5.4% | |
| 60 | Shannondale, WV | 3,441 | $72,283 | 6.8% | |
| 61 | Fayetteville, WV | 2,864 | $59,659 | 2.0% | |
| 62 | Moorefield, WV | 2,952 | $47,308 | 5.0% | |
| 63 | Harrisville, WV | 1,408 | $45,988 | 1.7% | |
| 64 | Glenville, WV | 1,049 | $46,875 | 7.3% | |
| 65 | Crab Orchard, WV | 1,877 | $59,122 | 21.8% | |
| 66 | Wellsburg, WV | 2,364 | $40,948 | 13.0% | |
| 67 | Enterprise, WV | 1,084 | $73,150 | 9.6% | |
| 68 | Ripley, WV | 3,066 | $35,120 | 4.9% | |
| 69 | Ronceverte, WV | 1,523 | $43,445 | 4.2% | |
| 70 | Carpendale, WV | 1,053 | $59,679 | 11.2% | |
| 71 | Buffalo, WV | 1,110 | $55,313 | 7.5% | |
| 72 | Ceredo, WV | 1,432 | $48,184 | 5.2% | |
| 73 | Sissonville, WV | 2,706 | $58,322 | 9.1% | |
| 74 | Mullens, WV | 2,267 | $65,625 | 4.5% | |
| 75 | Benwood, WV | 1,173 | $39,474 | 3.3% | |
| 76 | West Liberty, WV | 1,568 | $43,333 | 4.9% | |
| 77 | Alum Creek, WV | 1,472 | $72,250 | 8.7% | |
| 78 | Philippi, WV | 2,919 | $43,203 | 10.2% | |
| 79 | Montgomery, WV | 1,635 | $26,797 | 11.0% | |
| 80 | Mount Gay-Shamrock, WV | 1,440 | $49,063 | 2.9% | |
| 81 | Salem, WV | 1,812 | $43,690 | 4.1% | |
| 82 | Bluewell, WV | 2,281 | $35,599 | 7.4% | |
| 83 | Marmet, WV | 1,520 | $47,620 | 14.0% | |
| 84 | Coal Fork, WV | 1,414 | $64,053 | 31.7% | |
| 85 | Mcmechen, WV | 1,735 | $42,863 | 7.4% | |
| 86 | Craigsville, WV | 1,584 | $28,718 | 3.6% | |
| 87 | Sistersville, WV | 1,340 | $46,875 | 15.8% | |
| 88 | Weston, WV | 3,884 | $51,399 | 13.4% | |
| 89 | Rainelle, WV | 1,334 | $36,875 | 4.3% | |
| 90 | Belington, WV | 1,843 | $47,361 | 7.0% | |
| 91 | Sophia, WV | 1,654 | $34,498 | 11.0% | |
| 92 | Pennsboro, WV | 1,227 | $51,348 | 3.4% | |
| 93 | Hinton, WV | 2,413 | $42,852 | 11.6% | |
| 94 | Grafton, WV | 4,671 | $38,872 | 9.3% | |
| 95 | Granville, WV | 1,215 | $32,015 | 10.7% | |
| 96 | Ansted, WV | 1,210 | $54,327 | 5.2% | |
| 97 | Marlinton, WV | 1,050 | $42,386 | 14.5% | |
| 98 | Alderson, WV | 1,182 | $33,794 | 3.4% | |
| 99 | Wayne, WV | 1,433 | $31,797 | 3.7% | |
| 100 | Romney, WV | 1,714 | $39,118 | 11.2% |