Before you decide to relocate to West Virginia, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in West Virginia that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2019-2023 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 25 places in West Virginia with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in West Virginia for 2025.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In West Virginia For 2025
What’s the most expensive place to live in West Virginia? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Charles Town is the most expensive place to live in West Virginia.
Moundsville (the cheapest place to live in West Virginia) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about West Virginia and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In West Virginia For 2025
/10
Population: 6,854
Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $94,830
Average Home Price: $359,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Charles Town: Data
The overall cost of living in Charles Town is 106. The median income in Charles Town comes in at $94,830 and the average home value is $359,500 for 2025.
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Population: 9,292
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $99,936
Average Home Price: $276,700
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on Bridgeport: Data
The overall cost of living in Bridgeport is 100. The median income in Bridgeport comes in at $99,936 and the average home value is $276,700 for 2025.
/10
Population: 18,805
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $54,590
Average Home Price: $231,900
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x
More on Martinsburg: Data
The overall cost of living in Martinsburg is 98. The median income in Martinsburg comes in at $54,590 and the average home value is $231,900 for 2025.
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Population: 30,273
Cost Of Living Index: 96
Median Income: $42,245
Average Home Price: $238,200
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.6x
More on Morgantown: Data
The overall cost of living in Morgantown is 96. The median income in Morgantown comes in at $42,245 and the average home value is $238,200 for 2025.
/10
Population: 47,918
Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $64,512
Average Home Price: $187,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.9x
More on Charleston: Data
The overall cost of living in Charleston is 95. The median income in Charleston comes in at $64,512 and the average home value is $187,300 for 2025.
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Population: 6,891
Cost Of Living Index: 94
Median Income: $67,083
Average Home Price: $190,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on Hurricane: Data
The overall cost of living in Hurricane is 94. The median income in Hurricane comes in at $67,083 and the average home value is $190,400 for 2025.
/10
Population: 10,637
Cost Of Living Index: 92
Median Income: $58,788
Average Home Price: $131,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.2x
More on St. Albans: Data
The overall cost of living in St. Albans is 92. The median income in St. Albans comes in at $58,788 and the average home value is $131,800 for 2025.
/10
Population: 10,575
Cost Of Living Index: 92
Median Income: $65,211
Average Home Price: $155,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.4x
More on Vienna: Data
The overall cost of living in Vienna is 92. The median income in Vienna comes in at $65,211 and the average home value is $155,500 for 2025.
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Population: 16,977
Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $39,939
Average Home Price: $148,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Beckley: Data
The overall cost of living in Beckley is 91. The median income in Beckley comes in at $39,939 and the average home value is $148,800 for 2025.
/10
Population: 13,594
Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $59,616
Average Home Price: $144,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.4x
More on South Charleston: Data
The overall cost of living in South Charleston is 91. The median income in South Charleston comes in at $59,616 and the average home value is $144,800 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Mountain State For 2025
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in West Virginia are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in West Virginia to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 25 places in West Virginia that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in West Virginia according to the data is Charles Town. We updated this article for 2025. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in West Virginia.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In West Virginia For 2025
Well, there you have it, the places in West Virginia that have the highest cost of living, with Charles Town ranking as the most expensive city in the Mountain State.
The most expensive cities in West Virginia are Charles Town, Bridgeport, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Charleston, Hurricane, St. Albans, Vienna, Beckley, and South Charleston.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in West Virginia according to the data:
- Moundsville
- Bluefield
- New Martinsville
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia
- Safest Places In West Virginia
- Worst Places To Live In West Virginia
Most Expensive Cities In West Virginia
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Town | 106 | 6,854 | $94,830 | $359,500 | 3.8x |
| 2 | Bridgeport | 100 | 9,292 | $99,936 | $276,700 | 2.8x |
| 3 | Martinsburg | 98 | 18,805 | $54,590 | $231,900 | 4.2x |
| 4 | Morgantown | 96 | 30,273 | $42,245 | $238,200 | 5.6x |
| 5 | Charleston | 95 | 47,918 | $64,512 | $187,300 | 2.9x |
| 6 | Hurricane | 94 | 6,891 | $67,083 | $190,400 | 2.8x |
| 7 | St. Albans | 92 | 10,637 | $58,788 | $131,800 | 2.2x |
| 8 | Vienna | 92 | 10,575 | $65,211 | $155,500 | 2.4x |
| 9 | Beckley | 91 | 16,977 | $39,939 | $148,800 | 3.7x |
| 10 | South Charleston | 91 | 13,594 | $59,616 | $144,800 | 2.4x |
| 11 | Nitro | 91 | 6,941 | $52,247 | $120,400 | 2.3x |
| 12 | Huntington | 89 | 46,189 | $43,146 | $118,800 | 2.8x |
| 13 | Oak Hill | 89 | 8,057 | $51,799 | $110,400 | 2.1x |
| 14 | Buckhannon | 88 | 5,144 | $48,720 | $152,000 | 3.1x |
| 15 | Wheeling | 87 | 26,670 | $48,498 | $142,500 | 2.9x |
| 16 | Weirton | 87 | 18,785 | $56,699 | $122,800 | 2.2x |
| 17 | Fairmont | 87 | 18,303 | $60,791 | $159,100 | 2.6x |
| 18 | Dunbar | 86 | 7,340 | $54,647 | $121,100 | 2.2x |
| 19 | Parkersburg | 85 | 29,461 | $44,675 | $113,900 | 2.5x |
| 20 | Elkins | 84 | 6,875 | $47,746 | $130,500 | 2.7x |
| 21 | Princeton | 84 | 5,780 | $44,428 | $115,800 | 2.6x |
| 22 | Clarksburg | 83 | 15,829 | $46,859 | $114,600 | 2.4x |
| 23 | New Martinsville | 83 | 5,175 | $51,226 | $112,600 | 2.2x |
| 24 | Bluefield | 82 | 9,511 | $43,826 | $101,000 | 2.3x |
| 25 | Moundsville | 82 | 7,934 | $48,590 | $108,500 | 2.2x |