Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Richwood’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and civic life and an A− for history; the weakest is a D− for incomes. Richwood’s average trip to work is 37 minutes, above both the West Virginia town median (21 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). On incomes, just 1 of West Virginia’s 140 towns do worse. On CDC estimates, its residents' health ranks in the bottom 2% nationally. Downtown Richwood Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Richwood has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Richwood beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Downtown Richwood Historic District| Widest gap | Richwood | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 14.8% | 10.6% |
2,051 counted in 2010 and 1,660 in 2020; an estimated 1,598 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within West Virginia), ordered by how far Richwood is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 3,061 in 1910, a peak of 5,720 in 1930, 1,660 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1942 and 6 maps from 1918 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Richwood, 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 Richwood.
21% of Richwood adults report frequent physical distress, above both West Virginia’s towns (17%) and U.S. towns (14%). 32% of Richwood adults say their health is fair or poor. Richwood beats the West Virginia average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14.
| Richwood | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 51% | 44% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 18% | 14% |
| What stands out | Richwood | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.6% | 79.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.8% | 10.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Nicholas County Schools. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry River Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 152 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduation
The typical Richwood home is worth about $73,000, down 11.6% in a year, 59% below the West Virginia typical home. The median rent in Richwood is $682 a month.
| Richwood | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 83% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $682 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 93% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 121 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Richwood.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Richwood’s median household income is $31,000. Since 2013, Richwood has lost 1,095 jobs, to 258 in 2023. 26% of residents live below the poverty line in Richwood.
| Richwood | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 26% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $31,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 8.8% | 14% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Richwood has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower July high than Richwood.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Richwood has lost 4% of its people since 2020, down to 1,598 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 17% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 24% across West Virginia.
| Richwood | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 27% | 21% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 17% | 29% | 29% |
| Median age | 46.2 years | 42.2 years | 40.5 years |
55% women, 45% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.7 points. Across West Virginia, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Richwood | WV | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.4% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.5% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.8% | 12% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.3% | 12% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15.2% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.2% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.1% | 12.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.3% | 8.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.4% | 10.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 42.6% | 39.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 28.7% | 17.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 2.4% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 12.4% | 14.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 4.5% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,600, single groups can be off by several points
0.3 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
| Richwood | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.5% | 2.5% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Richwood City Park | — | 8 |
| 2. Pratt Field | — | 8 |
| 3. Dane Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Richwood; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Richwood residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Where Richwood’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
9 notable people were born in Richwood.
City in West Virginia, United States
Richwood is a city in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. In 2020, the census showed Richwood with a population of 1,661. During the 19th and early 20th century Richwood was a booming coal and lumber town. Richwood has a very rich history, including the formation of the Cherry River Navy civic organization to draw attention to issues important to the community. Richwood has also become known statewide as the "Ramp Capital of the World". Each year, in April, the city hosts a large festival that draws visitors from around the country.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
9 notable people were born here, including Mike Callaghan and Wayland Dean.
