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New River Gorge BridgeFayetteville, #1 on this list · New River Gorge Bridge · Photo: JaGa · CC BY-SA 4.0
West Virginia rankings · Hazard risk

Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in West Virginia

Fayetteville ranks first on hazard risk among West Virginia’s 61 towns of 2,500+; 10 of the 61 grade A− or better on hazard risk nationally.

The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). How grades work

#1

Fayetteville

Fayette County · 2,721 people
A+

Hazard risk grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #46 of 61 in WV

#2

Beckley

Raleigh County · 16,373 people
A+

Hazard risk grade, better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #54 of 61 in WV

#3

Ranson corporation

Jefferson County · 6,853 people
A+

Hazard risk grade, better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #11 of 61 in WV

All 61 towns

Hazard risk grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

61 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1FayettevilleFayette County · 2,721 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #46 of 61
2BeckleyRaleigh County · 16,373 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #54 of 61
3Ranson corporationJefferson County · 6,853 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #11 of 61
4KingwoodPreston County · 2,937 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #29 of 61
5Oak HillFayette County · 7,629 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #39 of 61
6Shady Springunincorporated, Raleigh County · 3,381 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #37 of 61
7Charles TownJefferson County · 9,329 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #8 of 61
8SummersvilleNicholas County · 3,297 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #28 of 61
9LewisburgGreenbrier County · 3,721 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #59 of 61
10BluefieldMercer County · 9,158 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #55 of 61
11MartinsburgBerkeley County · 19,211 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #35 of 61
12PrincetonMercer County · 5,578 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #44 of 61
13BethlehemOhio County · 2,520 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 61
14Brookhavenunincorporated, Monongalia County · 6,212 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #9 of 61
15Cheat Lakeunincorporated, Monongalia County · 10,902 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #1 of 61
16Inwoodunincorporated, Berkeley County · 2,794 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #31 of 61
17Point PleasantMason County · 3,869 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #43 of 61
18BridgeportHarrison County · 9,427 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #6 of 61
19Shannondaleunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,465 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #36 of 61
20ViennaWood County · 10,321 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #23 of 61
21Teays Valleyunincorporated, Putnam County · 14,151 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 61
22MorgantownMonongalia County · 30,293 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #10 of 61
23HurricanePutnam County · 7,367 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #5 of 61
24KenovaWayne County · 2,841 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #7 of 61
25WilliamstownWood County · 2,922 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 61
26HuntingtonCabell County · 44,815 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #56 of 61
27Cullodenunincorporated, Cabell County · 3,040 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #22 of 61
28FairmontMarion County · 18,035 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #21 of 61
29FollansbeeBrooke County · 2,668 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #25 of 61
30ParkersburgWood County · 28,593 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #32 of 61
31WeirtonHancock County · 18,133 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #26 of 61
32RipleyJackson County · 3,038 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #13 of 61
33WestoverMonongalia County · 4,086 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #14 of 61
34Blennerhassettunincorporated, Wood County · 3,282 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #16 of 61
35MoundsvilleMarshall County · 7,659 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #24 of 61
36Cross Lanesunincorporated, Kanawha County · 9,671 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #15 of 61
37ClarksburgHarrison County · 15,562 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #30 of 61
38MoorefieldHardy County · 2,655 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #57 of 61
39RavenswoodJackson County · 3,790 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #18 of 61
40KeyserMineral County · 4,777 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #17 of 61
41Sissonvilleunincorporated, Kanawha County · 3,593 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #42 of 61
42MiltonCabell County · 2,792 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #50 of 61
43Pleasant ValleyMarion County · 3,457 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #12 of 61
44BuckhannonUpshur County · 5,054 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #47 of 61
45GraftonTaylor County · 4,529 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #19 of 61
46South CharlestonKanawha County · 13,072 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #52 of 61
47PhilippiBarbour County · 2,846 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #49 of 61
48Pinchunincorporated, Kanawha County · 4,037 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #33 of 61
49CharlestonKanawha County · 46,117 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #58 of 61
50Pea Ridgeunincorporated, Cabell County · 6,988 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #27 of 61
51BarboursvilleCabell County · 4,307 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #48 of 61
52ElkinsRandolph County · 6,622 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #51 of 61
53WelchMcDowell County · 3,389 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #60 of 61
54DunbarKanawha County · 7,050 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #38 of 61
55MadisonBoone County · 2,678 peopleD−better than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #20 of 61
56WheelingOhio County · 25,680 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #41 of 61
57WestonLewis County · 3,736 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #40 of 61
58NitroKanawha County · 6,270 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #53 of 61
59WilliamsonMingo County · 2,753 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #61 of 61
60St. AlbansKanawha County · 10,210 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #45 of 61
61New MartinsvilleWetzel County · 5,039 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C · #34 of 61
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which West Virginia town has the lowest natural-hazard risk?

Fayetteville (Fayette County) ranks first on hazard risk among 61 towns, with an A+; Beckley and Ranson corporation follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a hazard risk grade (61 in West Virginia). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the West Virginia page.

Go deeper

More West Virginia lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All West Virginia rankings →
Best places to live61 towns · #1 Cheat LakeBest small towns46 towns · #1 WilliamstownMost 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 KenovaBest 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
Other states

Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in other states

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