RaysalWV
A town settled in 1932, now home to 162 people.
Is Raysal a good place to live?
35% of residents live below the poverty line in Raysal, above both the West Virginia town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Among 62 West Virginia towns, just one has a higher home-ownership rate than Raysal. Raysal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
162 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Raysal: who provides what
Raysal is unincorporated, so McDowell County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Raysal.
Top of a very high hazard risk in Raysal: inland flooding
Households in Raysal have drawn federal disaster aid in 7 declared disasters, most recently in 2025. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 88% of U.S. communities.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
With 0.1 jobs for every working resident, most of Raysal’s workers commute out
Half the trips to work are shorter than 29 miles. The top destinations are Welch (15%), Beckley (5%) and Roanoke (3%).
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
In Raysal, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 25° and about 16 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Raysal stands out in West Virginia and nationally: a larger share of its adults have high blood pressure
No town among the 62 in West Virginia we compare has a higher share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Raysal. Among adults in the town, 34% have been diagnosed with depression. Also worth knowing: only 2 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Raysal. Two figures for adults in the town: 31% smoke cigarettes, 21% have diabetes.
| Raysal | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 24% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 18% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 16% | 12% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 21% | 17% |
| What stands out | Raysal | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 35.9% | 19.5% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 26.6% | 16.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 17.4% | 10.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Raysal
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Raysal; the nearest are
About 7 of every 100 Raysal residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
100% of working residents leave Raysal for work
Where Raysal’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Raysal
Census-designated place in West Virginia, United States
Raysal is a census-designated place (CDP) in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Raysal is located along West Virginia Route 83, 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Bradshaw. Raysal has a post office with ZIP code 24879. As of the 2020 census, its population was 364 (down from 465 at the 2010 census). The community's name is an amalgamation of Raymond Salvati, a mining official. Raysal is on the Norfolk Southern Railway (former Norfolk and Western) network.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,201 ft
- ZIP code
- 24879
Questions about Raysal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Raysal, WV a good place to live?
Raysal has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.