#1Follansbee
Brooke County · 2,668 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.1 years of area income·Overall C+ · #25 of 61 in WV
Follansbee, #1 on this list · Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domainWest Virginia rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in West Virginia
Follansbee ranks first on cost of living among West Virginia’s 61 towns of 2,500+; 31 of the 61 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1A+
#2Grafton
Taylor County · 4,529 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.3 years of area income·Overall B− · #19 of 61 in WV
#3Kenova
Wayne County · 2,841 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.2 years of area income·Overall A− · #7 of 61 in WV
All 61 towns
Cost of living 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.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
16Shannondaleunincorporated, Jefferson County · 3,465 peopleA−2.3 years of area income·Overall C · #36 of 61
24Cross Lanesunincorporated, Kanawha County · 9,671 peopleA−2.6 years of area income·Overall B− · #15 of 61
25Sissonvilleunincorporated, Kanawha County · 3,593 peopleA−2.9 years of area income·Overall C− · #42 of 61
34Blennerhassettunincorporated, Wood County · 3,282 peopleB+3.1 years of area income·Overall B− · #16 of 61
35Cullodenunincorporated, Cabell County · 3,040 peopleB+3.9 years of area income·Overall C+ · #22 of 61
42Inwoodunincorporated, Berkeley County · 2,794 peopleB4.1 years of area income·Overall C · #31 of 61
45Pea Ridgeunincorporated, Cabell County · 6,988 peopleB3.1 years of area income·Overall C+ · #27 of 61
46Shady Springunincorporated, Raleigh County · 3,381 peopleB3.8 years of area income·Overall C · #37 of 61
50Brookhavenunincorporated, Monongalia County · 6,212 peopleB−4.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #9 of 61
57Cheat Lakeunincorporated, Monongalia County · 10,902 peopleC+5.7 years of area income·Overall A · #1 of 61
60Teays Valleyunincorporated, Putnam County · 14,151 peopleC+4.6 years of area income·Overall A · #4 of 61
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in West Virginia?
Follansbee (Brooke County) ranks first on cost of living among 61 towns, with an A+; Grafton and Kenova follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). 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 cost of living 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
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 LakeBest small towns46 towns · #1 WilliamstownSafest 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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