JeffersonWV
A town of 534.
Is Jefferson a good place to live?
55% of residents live below the poverty line in Jefferson, above both the West Virginia town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 62 in West Virginia we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Jefferson. Jefferson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Jefferson stand out
Where Jefferson beats most towns.
534 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Jefferson: who provides what
Jefferson is unincorporated, so Kanawha 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.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Jefferson.
With 2.7 jobs for every working resident, Jefferson draws in 557 commuters
Most working residents leave Jefferson for work: only 2% work in town. Jobs based in Jefferson fell to 561 in 2023, 352 fewer than in 2013. At 25 minutes, Jefferson’s average trip to work is against 21 minutes in West Virginia’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns.
| Jefferson | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.9% | 14% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Inland flooding leads a very high hazard risk in Jefferson
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 97% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
A smaller share of households own their home in Jefferson than in most of West Virginia or the rest of the country
38% of Jefferson households own their home. Typical home values fell 7% in the year to September 2026. Jefferson’s median rent is $636 a month.
| Jefferson | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 38% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $636 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Jefferson
Jefferson has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 25° and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
More of Jefferson’s adults have high blood pressure than in the typical West Virginia or U.S. town
51% of adults have high blood pressure in Jefferson. Only 5 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Jefferson. 43% of adults have obesity in Jefferson.
| Jefferson | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 51% | 44% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 32% | 25% |
| What stands out | Jefferson | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing food insecurity | 23.1% | 16.2% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 15.4% | 11% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 16.7% | 12.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Jefferson
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Jefferson
About 3 of every 100 Jefferson residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Every workday, about 557 people come to Jefferson for work
Where Jefferson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Questions about Jefferson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Jefferson, WV a good place to live?
Jefferson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.