Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Cairo. Bank of Cairo is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cairo has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Cairo beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 75 in 1880, a peak of 668 in 1910, 176 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 1899 and 4 maps from 1907 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Cairo, and how to reach them.
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 Cairo.
FEMA puts 93% of Cairo’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding. Storm and flood damage is expected to run higher than in 95% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 15 flood insurance claims have been paid out in the town.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
In Cairo, the typical rent is $488 a month, where West Virginia’s towns sit at $878 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. Values fell 7.3% in the year to September 2026.
| Cairo | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 94% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $488 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 23° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Cairo: 17% of residents live below the poverty line, against 16% in West Virginia’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Most working residents leave Cairo for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Parkersburg (12%), Ellenboro (9%) and Harrisville (9%). For half of commuters, work is under 18 miles away.
| Cairo | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 2.9% | 14% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
32% of Cairo adults have been diagnosed with depression. Only 2 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a higher share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Cairo. In Cairo, a fifth of adults report frequent physical distress, and 24% report frequent mental distress.
| Cairo | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 18% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 21% | 17% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 32% | 25% |
| What stands out | Cairo | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 22% | 16.2% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 11.7% | 8.9% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 25.5% | 19.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Cairo; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Cairo residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Town in West Virginia, United States
Cairo ( KAIR-oh) is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States, along West Virginia Route 31, the North Fork of the Hughes River, and the North Bend Rail Trail. The population was 174 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cairo has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
