#2Williamstown
Wood County · 2,922 peopleStrongest: schools A−, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C
A−Cost–SafetyA−SchoolsC+HealthA−JobsBWalkCHazards
Williamstown, #1 on this list · Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 2.5West Virginia rankings · 2026
Best small towns in West Virginia
Williamstown ranks first of West Virginia’s 46 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A: schools (A−) and cost of living (A−) are its strongest grades; hazard risk (C) is its lowest. 5 of the 46 (11%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#2A
Bethlehem
Ohio County · 2,520 peopleStrongest: schools A, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability B−
B−Cost–SafetyASchoolsBHealthB+JobsB−WalkB+Hazards
#5Hurricane
Putnam County · 7,367 peopleStrongest: schools A+, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
B+Cost–SafetyA+SchoolsC+HealthBJobsB−WalkC+Hazards
Where they are: Two of the top 10 are in Jefferson County.
All 46 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 61 West Virginia towns.
46 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
2WilliamstownWood County · 2,922 people67.6top 10.9%AStrongest: schools A−, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk C
3BethlehemOhio County · 2,520 people65.8top 15.0%AStrongest: schools A, jobs & income B+·lowest: walkability B−
5HurricanePutnam County · 7,367 people63.0top 21.5%A−Strongest: schools A+, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk C+
6BridgeportHarrison County · 9,427 people62.7top 22.2%A−Strongest: jobs & income A, schools A−·lowest: cost of living C+
7KenovaWayne County · 2,841 people62.3top 23.2%A−Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability A+·lowest: health D−
8Charles TownJefferson County · 9,329 people61.1top 26.7%B+Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk A·lowest: health C
9Brookhavenunincorporated, Monongalia County · 6,212 people59.8top 29.8%B+Strongest: schools A+, hazard risk B·lowest: health C+
11Ranson corporationJefferson County · 6,853 people58.4top 33.5%B+Strongest: hazard risk A+, cost of living A·lowest: health D
12Pleasant ValleyMarion County · 3,457 people56.7top 38.1%BStrongest: schools A, cost of living A−·lowest: hazard risk D
13RipleyJackson County · 3,038 people53.6top 46.4%B−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability A·lowest: health D−
14WestoverMonongalia County · 4,086 people53.2top 47.6%B−Strongest: schools A+, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
15Cross Lanesunincorporated, Kanawha County · 9,671 people52.7top 49.0%B−Strongest: cost of living A−, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk C−
16Blennerhassettunincorporated, Wood County · 3,282 people52.6top 49.3%B−Strongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
17KeyserMineral County · 4,777 people52.3bottom 49.7%B−Strongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
18RavenswoodJackson County · 3,790 people50.5bottom 45.1%B−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools A−·lowest: health D−
19GraftonTaylor County · 4,529 people50.5bottom 45.1%B−Strongest: cost of living A+, safety A−·lowest: health D−
20MadisonBoone County · 2,678 people50.4bottom 44.7%C+Strongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D−
22Cullodenunincorporated, Cabell County · 3,040 people50.2bottom 44.2%C+Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B+·lowest: health C−
24MoundsvilleMarshall County · 7,659 people49.9bottom 43.4%C+Strongest: cost of living A, schools A−·lowest: health D
25FollansbeeBrooke County · 2,668 people49.3bottom 41.8%C+Strongest: cost of living A+, safety B+·lowest: schools D
27Pea Ridgeunincorporated, Cabell County · 6,988 people48.2bottom 38.6%C+Strongest: cost of living B, jobs & income B·lowest: hazard risk D
28SummersvilleNicholas County · 3,297 people47.6bottom 36.8%C+Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
29KingwoodPreston County · 2,937 people46.8bottom 34.9%CStrongest: hazard risk A, cost of living A·lowest: schools D
31Inwoodunincorporated, Berkeley County · 2,794 people45.5bottom 31.5%CStrongest: cost of living B, schools B·lowest: walkability C−
33Pinchunincorporated, Kanawha County · 4,037 people45.0bottom 30.2%CStrongest: jobs & income A−, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk D
34New MartinsvilleWetzel County · 5,039 people44.7bottom 29.5%CStrongest: cost of living A, walkability A·lowest: hazard risk D−
36Shannondaleunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,465 people43.9bottom 27.7%CStrongest: cost of living A−, schools B−·lowest: walkability D−
37Shady Springunincorporated, Raleigh County · 3,381 people43.2bottom 25.9%CStrongest: hazard risk A, schools B·lowest: walkability C−
38DunbarKanawha County · 7,050 people42.8bottom 25.1%CStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk D
39Oak HillFayette County · 7,629 people42.7bottom 24.7%C−Strongest: hazard risk A, walkability A−·lowest: health D−
40WestonLewis County · 3,736 people42.6bottom 24.6%C−Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability A−·lowest: health D−
42Sissonvilleunincorporated, Kanawha County · 3,593 people42.2bottom 23.6%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
43Point PleasantMason County · 3,869 people41.9bottom 23.1%C−Strongest: cost of living A, schools B−·lowest: health D−
44PrincetonMercer County · 5,578 people41.7bottom 22.6%C−Strongest: walkability A, hazard risk B+·lowest: health D−
46FayettevilleFayette County · 2,721 people40.1bottom 19.3%C−Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability B+·lowest: health D
47BuckhannonUpshur County · 5,054 people39.2bottom 17.5%C−Strongest: walkability A+, cost of living B+·lowest: schools D
48BarboursvilleCabell County · 4,307 people38.7bottom 16.5%C−Strongest: walkability A, schools B−·lowest: hazard risk D
49PhilippiBarbour County · 2,846 people38.3bottom 15.8%C−Strongest: walkability A−, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income D
50MiltonCabell County · 2,792 people38.3bottom 15.8%C−Strongest: schools B−, walkability C+·lowest: hazard risk D
51ElkinsRandolph County · 6,622 people36.6bottom 12.9%DStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk D
53NitroKanawha County · 6,270 people36.3bottom 12.4%DStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk D−
55BluefieldMercer County · 9,158 people35.3bottom 11.0%DStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk A−·lowest: health D−
57MoorefieldHardy County · 2,655 people34.8bottom 10.3%DStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B−·lowest: health D−
59LewisburgGreenbrier County · 3,721 people32.2bottom 7.1%DStrongest: walkability A, hazard risk A−·lowest: jobs & income D
60WelchMcDowell County · 3,389 people30.1bottom 4.9%D−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D−
61WilliamsonMingo County · 2,753 people30.0bottom 4.9%D−Strongest: cost of living B+, schools C+·lowest: health D−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within West Virginia. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in West Virginia?
Among 46 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Williamstown (Wood County) ranks first, with an A; schools (A−) and cost of living (A−) are its strongest grades; hazard risk (C) is its lowest. Bethlehem and Hurricane follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within West Virginia. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (46 in West Virginia). 80 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the West Virginia page.
Go deeper
All West Virginia rankings →More West Virginia lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live61 towns · #1 Cheat LakeMost affordable towns61 towns · #1 FollansbeeSafest towns29 towns · #1 KenovaTowns with the best schools61 towns · #1 Hurricane and Teays ValleyHealthiest towns61 towns · #1 Cheat LakeBest towns for jobs & income61 towns · #1 Teays ValleyMost walkable towns61 towns · #1 KenovaTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk61 towns · #1 FayettevilleBest towns for the outdoors61 towns · #1 PhilippiMost historic towns61 towns · #1 WheelingTowns with the most civic life48 towns · #1 LewisburgTowns with the least snow61 towns · #1 KenovaDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns61 towns · #1 ElkinsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters59 towns · #1 WilliamsonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers59 towns · #1 MoorefieldDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers59 towns · #1 Shady SpringDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes61 towns · #1 Cheat LakeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes61 towns · #1 GraftonDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns50 towns · #1 Charles TownDescribed, no letters
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