Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,076, settled in 1909.
The best of Sophia’s subject grades are a B+ for cost of living and a B for schools; the weakest is a D− for health. 38% of residents live below the poverty line in Sophia, against 16% in West Virginia’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. The median household income is $36K, and 38% of residents live below the poverty line. Only 2 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Sophia. Sophia Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Sophia has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Sophia beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
| Widest gap | Sophia | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 13% | 10.6% |
1,344 counted in 2010 and 1,130 in 2020; an estimated 1,076 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 Sophia is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Sophia, 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 Sophia.
The share of adults in Sophia who have been diagnosed with depression is 33%, where West Virginia’s towns sit at 31% and U.S. towns at 23%. Among 62 West Virginia towns, just 4 have a higher share of adults who feel lonely than Sophia. In addition, a fifth of Sophia adults report frequent physical distress.
| Sophia | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 21% | 17% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 24% | 19% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 31% | 23% |
| What stands out | Sophia | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 13% | 10.6% |
| More adults in fair or poor health | 30.5% | 25.4% |
| More adults in frequent physical distress | 20.3% | 17.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia Christian Academy PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 27 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduation
This West Virginia town had 851 jobs in 2023, down 178 from 2013. The share of working residents in Sophia who work locally: 4%. Its average trip to work is 27 minutes. Only 3 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower middle household income than Sophia.
| Sophia | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $36,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 14% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
58% of households own their home in Sophia. Typical home values fell 5.3% in the year to September 2026. Its typical rent is $870 a month.
| Sophia | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 58% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $870 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
A winter brings about 56 inches of snow, with January nights at 23° and July afternoons at 81°.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Sophia after 10 declared disasters, most recently in 2025. Compared with 55% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage locally is higher. The town has had 13 paid flood insurance claims since 1980. 83% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Sophia. Close and well known come first.
12 mi National PreserveNew River Gorge National Park and Preserve2.0M visitors a year
16 mi Park & preserveThe Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve
20 mi MuseumThurmond
6 mi MuseumPhillips-Sprague Mine
17 mi National park siteBluestone National Scenic River12K visitors a year
35 mi National Recreation AreaGauley River National Recreation Area214K visitors a yearNew River Gorge National Park and Preserve: NKS22, Public domain · The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve: Lisa Strader, CC BY 2.0 · Thurmond: Brian M. Powell (user Bitmapped on en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Phillips-Sprague Mine: Coal town guy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bluestone National Scenic River: Dave Bieri, Public domain · Gauley River National Recreation Area: Wwkayaker22 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
3 within 15 miles of the center of Sophia
About 2 of every 100 Sophia residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Town in West Virginia, United States
Sophia is a town in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. It was incorporated in 1912. The population was 1,124 at the 2020 census. Sophia is an incorporated municipality in Raleigh County. The town government is headquartered at Sophia Town Hall on East Railroad Avenue. The Raleigh County Public Library operates its Sophia Branch in the town. The branch has served the Sophia community since November 1974. Its historical commercial center, the Sophia Historical District is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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. That is 2 years of the area's median household income ($52,620 across the Beckley, WV metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
