Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 331, settled in 1884.
Lester’s average trip to work is 54 minutes, above both West Virginia’s towns (21 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only 1 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a higher median age than Lester. Lester has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 412 in 1920, a peak of 909 in 1940, 338 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1912 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lester, 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 Lester.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 81% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Lester since 2001.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
41% of residents live below the poverty line in Lester, above both the West Virginia town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Jobs based in Lester fell to 7 in 2023, 111 fewer than in 2013. Most working residents leave Lester for work: only 0% work in town.
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The typical Lester home is worth about $137,000, up 3.6% in a year, 23% below the West Virginia typical home. Lester’s median rent is $850 a month.
| Lester | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $850 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 68% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Lester has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Lester is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Lester beats the West Virginia average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 13. 20% of adults report frequent physical distress in Lester. Only 3 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a higher share of adults who feel lonely than Lester.
| Lester | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 17% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 24% | 19% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 21% | 17% |
| What stands out | Lester | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 26.8% | 19.5% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 21.4% | 16.2% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 14.1% | 11% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lester. Close and well known come first.
13 mi National PreserveNew River Gorge National Park and Preserve2.0M visitors a year
16 mi Park & preserveThe Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve
20 mi MuseumThurmond
7 mi MuseumPhillips-Sprague Mine
20 mi National park siteBluestone National Scenic River12K visitors a year
34 mi National Recreation AreaGauley River National Recreation Area214K visitors a yearNew River Gorge National Park and Preserve: NKS22, Public domain · The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve: Lisa Strader, CC BY 2.0 · Thurmond: Brian M. Powell (user Bitmapped on en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Phillips-Sprague Mine: Coal town guy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bluestone National Scenic River: Dave Bieri, Public domain · Gauley River National Recreation Area: Wwkayaker22 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
3 within 15 miles of the center of Lester
About 3 of every 100 Lester residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Where Lester’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in West Virginia, United States
Lester is a town in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 337 at the 2020 census. The community was named after Champ Lester, a local pioneer.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Lester has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
