Powell-Redmond House · National Register of Historic Places
Clifton’s story
159 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1867Clifton is settled
CliftonWV
A town of 211, settled in 1867.
1 bordering townMap →
Powell-Redmond House · Photo: curryrussell · CC BY-SA 3.0
Is Clifton a good place to live?
Powell-Redmond House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Clifton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
211 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
MasonClifton
Getting set up
Moving to Clifton: who provides what
Clifton is unincorporated, so Mason County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerAppalachian Power17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMason Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers90% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesMason CountyMason County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn West Virginia you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMason Clerk of the County CommissionMason County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP code2526025260 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clifton.
Natural hazards
Clifton has a very high natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Clifton’s natural-hazard score from FEMA is 91 of 100, where West Virginia’s towns sit at 69 of 100 and U.S. towns at 44 of 100. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Clifton after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2012.
91risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than West Virginia overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 52% of residents (38% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 11% of residents (21% statewide). College graduates make up 25% of adults 25 and older, against 24% across West Virginia.
57.4median age · WV 42.7
CliftonWest VirginiaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
28%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school39%
Some college17%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s5%
Graduate20%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 8% and 100% women
The Census survey reached too few of Clifton’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±49.6 points. Across West Virginia, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Clifton | WV | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 5.7% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.2% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.2% | 12% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 21.3% | 12% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 1.9% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 28.4% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 3.3% | 12.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 21.3% | 8.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.7% | 10.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 39% | 39.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.9% | 17.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.5% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 4.7% | 14.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 20.3% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 200, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commute
In Clifton, the average trip to work runs longer than in the typical West Virginia or U.S. town
14% of residents live below the poverty line in Clifton. Jobs based in the town fell to 32 in 2023, 41 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are Charleston (12%), Mason (7%) and Pomeroy (6%). Half commute less than 19 miles.
0%work in town
| Clifton | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 41 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 16% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Clifton0%
Charleston12%
Mason7%
Pomeroy6%
Henderson3%
19 mi
median commute distance
32
jobs based in Clifton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Clifton: four seasons and pleasant summers
Summer afternoons peak near 85° in July, and January nights bottom out around 23°; snowfall runs to about 18 inches a winter. Expect chilly winters and warm summers in Clifton.
18″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–44°
Spring41–66°
Summer62–84°
Fall44–67°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Clifton stands out in West Virginia and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent physical distress
Among adults in Clifton, 12% binge drink. For adults in the town, the share who smoke cigarettes is 25%.
| Clifton | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 18% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 32% | 25% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 24% | 19% |
32 measures vs. West Virginia
0 better20 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Clifton | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 29.4% | 19.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.4% | 10.6% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 21.4% | 16.2% |
Rivers Health
10.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Clifton
14pages on Clifton
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Clifton; the nearest are
University of Rio GrandeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Rio Grande, OH20.1 mi$20,560 tuitionOhio UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Athens, OH22.5 mi$14,158 in-state tuitionHocking CollegeCommunity college · Public · Nelsonville, OH31.8 mi$5,540 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Clifton residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Clifton for work
Where Clifton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
32jobs based in Clifton
0%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Questions about Clifton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clifton, WV a good place to live?
Clifton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.