Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A regional job hub with 553 jobs.
32% of residents are 65 or older in Mason, against 21% in West Virginia’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Only 1 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a higher median age than Mason. Mason has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Shumaker-Lewis House. Mason has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Mason beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 1,182 in 1870, a peak of 1,432 in 1980, 866 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2015 and 4 maps from 1907 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mason, 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 Mason.
Most working residents leave Mason for work: only 10% work in town. 22% of residents live below the poverty line in Mason, where West Virginia’s towns sit at 16% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Mason’s median household income is $46,000.
| Mason | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 22% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $46,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 10% | 14% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Mason County Schools. Its one school is below. The largest public high school is Wahama Junior/Senior High School, with 397 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wahama Junior/Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 397 | C |
NCES · EDFacts
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 91% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The typical Mason home is worth about $123,000, up 20.8% in a year, 30% below the West Virginia typical home.
| Mason | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $983 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 68% | 73% |
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Mason has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 23° and about 18 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
12 crimes were reported in Mason in 2025: 10 property and 2 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Mason is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
41% of adults get no exercise outside work in Mason. No town among the 62 in West Virginia we compare has a lower share of adults who binge drink than Mason. 24% of adults smoke cigarettes in Mason.
| Mason | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 18% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 32% | 25% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 44% | 35% |
| What stands out | Mason | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.6% | 79.5% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 29.7% | 19.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mason City Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Mason; the nearest are
About 8 of every 100 Mason residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Where Mason’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
2 places in Mason on the National Register of Historic Places.
Town in West Virginia, United States
Mason, also known as Mason City, is a town in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 865 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Point Pleasant, WV–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area. Mason was initially known as Waggener's Bottom. It was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1856, and named for Mason County, which was named for George Mason, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Mason has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
