You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in West Virginia.
The median household income in Jefferson County, the richest county in West Virginia is $98,806, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 55 counties in the Mountain State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In West Virginia For 2026
What is the richest county in West Virginia? The richest county in West Virginia is Jefferson County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Mcdowell County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in West Virginia. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in West Virginia and the cheapest places to live in West Virginia.
The Richest Counties In West Virginia For 2026
1. Jefferson County
Biggest Place: Charles Town
Population: 59,260
Median Income: $98,806 (highest)
Median Home Price: $392,031 (highest)
More on Jefferson County: Data
2. Berkeley County
Biggest Place: Martinsburg
Population: 129,514
Median Income: $80,815 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $317,560 (2nd highest)
More on Berkeley County: Data
3. Morgan County
Biggest Place: Bath (Berkeley Springs)
Population: 17,426
Median Income: $72,179 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $297,948 (3rd highest)
More on Morgan County: Data
4. Putnam County
Biggest Place: Teays Valley
Population: 57,177
Median Income: $79,527 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $243,848 (6th highest)
More on Putnam County: Data
5. Monongalia County
Biggest Place: Morgantown
Population: 107,163
Median Income: $65,346 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $262,195 (4th highest)
More on Monongalia County: Data
6. Hampshire County
Biggest Place: Romney
Population: 23,465
Median Income: $63,116 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $249,556 (5th highest)
More on Hampshire County: Data
7. Pendleton County
Biggest Place: Franklin
Population: 6,043
Median Income: $64,931 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $214,776 (8th highest)
More on Pendleton County: Data
8. Mineral County
Biggest Place: Keyser
Population: 26,854
Median Income: $69,375 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $190,102 (12th highest)
More on Mineral County: Data
9. Marion County
Biggest Place: Fairmont
Population: 55,909
Median Income: $67,370 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $160,436 (20th highest)
More on Marion County: Data
10. Grant County
Biggest Place: Petersburg
Population: 10,983
Median Income: $62,361 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $185,576 (15th highest)
More on Grant County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which West Virginia county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in West Virginia, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in West Virginia for each of the criteria from one to 55, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In West Virginia.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Mountain State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in West Virginia. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In West Virginia For 2026
Living in West Virginia can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in West Virginia are Jefferson County, Berkeley County, Morgan County, Putnam County, Monongalia County, Hampshire County, Pendleton County, Mineral County, Marion County, and Grant County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in West Virginia according to the data:
- Mcdowell County
- Mingo County
- Webster County
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Best Counties To Live In West Virginia
- Richest Cities In West Virginia
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In West Virginia
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 59,260 | $98,806 | $392,031 |
| 2 | Berkeley County | 129,514 | $80,815 | $317,560 |
| 3 | Morgan County | 17,426 | $72,179 | $297,948 |
| 4 | Putnam County | 57,177 | $79,527 | $243,848 |
| 5 | Monongalia County | 107,163 | $65,346 | $262,195 |
| 6 | Hampshire County | 23,465 | $63,116 | $249,556 |
| 7 | Pendleton County | 6,043 | $64,931 | $214,776 |
| 8 | Mineral County | 26,854 | $69,375 | $190,102 |
| 9 | Marion County | 55,909 | $67,370 | $160,436 |
| 10 | Grant County | 10,983 | $62,361 | $185,576 |
| 11 | Jackson County | 27,705 | $58,845 | $197,159 |
| 12 | Pleasants County | 7,521 | $60,932 | $163,013 |
| 13 | Taylor County | 16,487 | $57,795 | $185,971 |
| 14 | Wood County | 83,407 | $57,810 | $171,090 |
| 15 | Monroe County | 12,386 | $56,750 | $189,892 |
| 16 | Tucker County | 6,654 | $53,358 | $206,839 |
| 17 | Preston County | 34,160 | $61,880 | $141,559 |
| 18 | Kanawha County | 176,537 | $60,943 | $150,832 |
| 19 | Hancock County | 28,431 | $61,466 | $141,481 |
| 20 | Harrison County | 64,984 | $60,377 | $146,770 |
| 21 | Cabell County | 92,739 | $55,832 | $166,804 |
| 22 | Ohio County | 41,582 | $57,094 | $155,836 |
| 23 | Hardy County | 14,243 | $49,272 | $224,627 |
| 24 | Wayne County | 38,164 | $58,878 | $140,059 |
| 25 | Nicholas County | 24,277 | $54,639 | $157,120 |
| 26 | Tyler County | 8,064 | $63,693 | $116,543 |
| 27 | Marshall County | 29,865 | $59,169 | $131,150 |
| 28 | Greenbrier County | 32,386 | $48,218 | $206,360 |
| 29 | Randolph County | 27,576 | $52,757 | $158,943 |
| 30 | Upshur County | 23,712 | $54,338 | $151,288 |
| 31 | Doddridge County | 7,711 | $57,401 | $133,729 |
| 32 | Raleigh County | 73,195 | $52,150 | $154,732 |
| 33 | Mason County | 25,043 | $49,761 | $158,535 |
| 34 | Lewis County | 16,740 | $56,477 | $131,893 |
| 35 | Mercer County | 58,563 | $53,210 | $140,204 |
| 36 | Pocahontas County | 7,784 | $42,119 | $184,477 |
| 37 | Brooke County | 21,805 | $54,316 | $128,106 |
| 38 | Fayette County | 39,519 | $53,194 | $133,029 |
| 39 | Wetzel County | 14,078 | $56,836 | $115,124 |
| 40 | Braxton County | 12,208 | $50,331 | $140,881 |
| 41 | Boone County | 21,026 | $57,093 | $87,572 |
| 42 | Summers County | 11,729 | $40,699 | $157,265 |
| 43 | Barbour County | 15,424 | $51,394 | $119,829 |
| 44 | Wirt County | 5,053 | $49,867 | $117,804 |
| 45 | Ritchie County | 8,286 | $50,582 | $112,863 |
| 46 | Roane County | 13,786 | $45,778 | $126,879 |
| 47 | Gilmer County | 7,288 | $47,981 | $117,898 |
| 48 | Logan County | 31,418 | $49,723 | $108,155 |
| 49 | Clay County | 7,835 | $42,318 | $121,589 |
| 50 | Lincoln County | 19,902 | $46,205 | $106,984 |
| 51 | Wyoming County | 20,629 | $48,440 | $66,138 |
| 52 | Calhoun County | 6,048 | $43,980 | $100,692 |
| 53 | Webster County | 8,144 | $43,839 | $81,680 |
| 54 | Mingo County | 22,542 | $38,119 | $80,927 |
| 55 | Mcdowell County | 17,943 | $31,559 | $40,888 |