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
Today 211 people live in this town, first settled in 1867.
1 bordering townMap →
Powell-Redmond House · Photo: curryrussell · CC BY-SA 3.0
Is Clifton a good place to live?
Clifton’s mean commuting time is 41 minutes, above both West Virginia’s towns (21 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a higher home-ownership rate than Clifton. 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
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Clifton after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2012. On expected storm and flood damage, Clifton sits above 91% of U.S. communities.
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
Most of Clifton’s workers head elsewhere: there are 0.5 jobs for each of them
The top destinations are Charleston (12%), Mason (7%) and Pomeroy (6%). Jobs based in Clifton fell to 32 in 2023, 41 fewer than in 2013. Half commute less than 19 miles. 14% of residents live below the poverty line locally.
0%work in town
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
A larger share of adults in Clifton report frequent physical distress than in the typical West Virginia or U.S. town
Among adults in Clifton, 44% sleep under 7 hours. Only 5 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Clifton.
| 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.