Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,096, settled in 1899.
Brush Fork’s best subject grade is an A+ for cost of living; its weakest is a D− for health. Only 3 of West Virginia’s 141 towns score higher on cost of living. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 86% of U.S. towns. No town among the 62 in West Virginia we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Brush Fork. On the outdoors, just 4 of West Virginia’s 141 towns do worse. Brush Fork has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within West Virginia), ordered by how far Brush Fork is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2017 and 5 maps from 1887 on.
Brush Fork is unincorporated, so Mercer County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Brush Fork.
21% of adults report frequent physical distress in Brush Fork, above both West Virginia’s towns (17%) and U.S. towns (14%). 32% of Brush Fork adults say their health is fair or poor. Brush Fork beats the West Virginia average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15.
| Brush Fork | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 18% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 24% | 19% |
| What stands out | Brush Fork | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.3% | 79.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.9% | 10.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Mercer County Schools. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brushfork Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 171 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduation
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 76% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
People 65 and older are 31% of residents (21% statewide); children under 18 are 14% of residents (20% statewide). At 47.7 years, Brush Fork’s median age is above both the West Virginia town median (42.2 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). 19% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Brush Fork.
| Brush Fork | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.7 years | 42.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 19% | 29% | 29% |
Somewhere between 39% and 70% women
The Census survey reached too few of Brush Fork’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±15.4 points. Across West Virginia, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Brush Fork | WV | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 2.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.7% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.4% | 12% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 8% | 12% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 17% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.8% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.8% | 12.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 12.7% | 8.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 12.1% | 10.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 46.3% | 39.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.2% | 17.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7.7% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 10.8% | 14.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.8% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,100, single groups can be off by several points
Brush Fork has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Brush Fork’s July high is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Brush Fork for work: only 1% work in town. Since 2013, Brush Fork has lost 82 jobs, to 301 in 2023. The average trip to work in Brush Fork is 19 minutes.
| Brush Fork | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $70,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
2 within 15 miles of the center of Brush Fork
About 11 of every 100 Brush Fork residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
1,197 counted in 2010 and 1,065 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
Census-designated place in West Virginia, United States
Brush Fork (also spelled Brushfork) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. Brush Fork is 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Bluefield. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,065 (down from 1,197 at the 2010 census). The community takes its name from nearby Brush Fork creek which flows into the Bluestone River. The West Virginia National Guard Brushfork Armory is located in the community. In addition to its National Guard functions it also hosts basketball games for Bluefield High School, commencements for local colleges and high schools, and other events. The Armory received 1.9 million dollars in 2024 for the planning and design of a new readines…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.