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 2020-2024 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 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In West Virginia For 2026
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.
Clarksburg (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 2026
/10
Population: 7,337
Cost Of Living Index: 112
Median Income: $89,263
Average Home Price: $400,662
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Charles Town: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Charles Town is 112. The median income in Charles Town comes in at $89,263 and the average home value is $400,662 for 2026.
/10
Population: 18,904
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $59,555
Average Home Price: $307,800
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.2x
More on Martinsburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Martinsburg is 100. The median income in Martinsburg comes in at $59,555 and the average home value is $307,800 for 2026.
/10
Population: 9,252
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $100,022
Average Home Price: $297,306
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.0x
More on Bridgeport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bridgeport is 100. The median income in Bridgeport comes in at $100,022 and the average home value is $297,306 for 2026.
/10
Population: 30,236
Cost Of Living Index: 99
Median Income: $44,727
Average Home Price: $280,205
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.3x
More on Morgantown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Morgantown is 99. The median income in Morgantown comes in at $44,727 and the average home value is $280,205 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,855
Cost Of Living Index: 94
Median Income: $71,167
Average Home Price: $269,184
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Hurricane: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Hurricane is 94. The median income in Hurricane comes in at $71,167 and the average home value is $269,184 for 2026.
/10
Population: 47,421
Cost Of Living Index: 92
Median Income: $65,812
Average Home Price: $163,657
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.5x
More on Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Charleston is 92. The median income in Charleston comes in at $65,812 and the average home value is $163,657 for 2026.
/10
Population: 10,522
Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $53,972
Average Home Price: $148,169
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.7x
More on St. Albans: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in St. Albans is 91. The median income in St. Albans comes in at $53,972 and the average home value is $148,169 for 2026.
/10
Population: 5,736
Cost Of Living Index: 91
Median Income: $43,900
Average Home Price: $166,769
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Princeton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Princeton is 91. The median income in Princeton comes in at $43,900 and the average home value is $166,769 for 2026.
/10
Population: 16,818
Cost Of Living Index: 89
Median Income: $45,826
Average Home Price: $146,482
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Beckley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Beckley is 89. The median income in Beckley comes in at $45,826 and the average home value is $146,482 for 2026.
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Population: 18,221
Cost Of Living Index: 88
Median Income: $63,032
Average Home Price: $185,554
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.9x
More on Fairmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Fairmont is 88. The median income in Fairmont comes in at $63,032 and the average home value is $185,554 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Mountain State For 2026
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 2020-2024 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 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in West Virginia.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In West Virginia For 2026
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, Martinsburg, Bridgeport, Morgantown, Hurricane, Charleston, St. Albans, Princeton, Beckley, and Fairmont.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in West Virginia according to the data:
- Clarksburg
- Parkersburg
- Oak Hill
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 | 112 | 7,337 | $89,263 | $400,662 | 4.5x |
| 2 | Martinsburg | 100 | 18,904 | $59,555 | $307,800 | 5.2x |
| 3 | Bridgeport | 100 | 9,252 | $100,022 | $297,306 | 3.0x |
| 4 | Morgantown | 99 | 30,236 | $44,727 | $280,205 | 6.3x |
| 5 | Hurricane | 94 | 6,855 | $71,167 | $269,184 | 3.8x |
| 6 | Charleston | 92 | 47,421 | $65,812 | $163,657 | 2.5x |
| 7 | St. Albans | 91 | 10,522 | $53,972 | $148,169 | 2.7x |
| 8 | Princeton | 91 | 5,736 | $43,900 | $166,769 | 3.8x |
| 9 | Beckley | 89 | 16,818 | $45,826 | $146,482 | 3.2x |
| 10 | Fairmont | 88 | 18,221 | $63,032 | $185,554 | 2.9x |
| 11 | Vienna | 88 | 10,518 | $60,388 | $183,598 | 3.0x |
| 12 | Bluefield | 88 | 9,387 | $49,375 | $105,764 | 2.1x |
| 13 | Wheeling | 87 | 26,350 | $48,590 | $148,166 | 3.0x |
| 14 | Weirton | 87 | 18,647 | $59,575 | $147,088 | 2.5x |
| 15 | Dunbar | 87 | 7,254 | $58,379 | $123,692 | 2.1x |
| 16 | Buckhannon | 87 | 5,116 | $54,615 | $156,488 | 2.9x |
| 17 | South Charleston | 86 | 13,457 | $63,884 | $167,047 | 2.6x |
| 18 | Huntington | 85 | 45,787 | $45,100 | $139,631 | 3.1x |
| 19 | Elkins | 84 | 6,811 | $44,217 | $166,142 | 3.8x |
| 20 | Moundsville | 83 | 7,869 | $49,048 | $124,991 | 2.5x |
| 21 | Nitro | 83 | 6,853 | $53,848 | $140,562 | 2.6x |
| 22 | New Martinsville | 83 | 5,133 | $60,946 | $136,698 | 2.2x |
| 23 | Oak Hill | 82 | 7,937 | $52,466 | $150,325 | 2.9x |
| 24 | Parkersburg | 80 | 29,240 | $49,025 | $147,802 | 3.0x |
| 25 | Clarksburg | 80 | 15,549 | $47,386 | $114,206 | 2.4x |