Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 3,297, settled in 1824.
Summersville gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $192K for a typical one, or 3.5 years of the county’s $55K median household income. It grades C+ overall, ranked 28th of 61 in West Virginia. The low prices come with trade-offs. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 91% of the country, and the median household income is $57K, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. On the plus side, natural-hazard risk is low. Summersville’s median age is 56.3 years, above both West Virginia’s towns (42 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Summersville has 7 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Nicholas County High School and Nicholas County Courthouse. Only 3 of the 31 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower violent crime rate than Summersville.
Where Summersville beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Census counts: 165 in 1880, 3,431 in 2020. The archive holds 17 old photos and papers going back to 1942 and 4 maps from 1913 on.
7 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within West Virginia), ordered by how far Summersville is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Summersville, 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 Summersville.
Summersville trades lower home prices for longer drives to work, draws workers from Craigsville and beyond and has fewer 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns.
3,328 jobs are based in Summersville, 2.3 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. Jobs based here fell from 4,541 in 2013 to 3,328.
About one in 3 of Summersville’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Summersville fell to 3,328 in 2023, 1,213 fewer than in 2013. Summersville’s average trip to work is 26 minutes.
| Summersville | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 31% | 13% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Nicholas County Schools. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Nicholas County High School, with 708 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summersville Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 509 | D |
| Nicholas County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 708 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WV on state tests and graduation
Within West Virginia it is less healthy than 52% of the 61 graded towns: much of West Virginia scores lower on these measures.
45% of adults have high blood pressure in Summersville. Summersville beats the West Virginia average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 31% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Summersville.
| Summersville | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 44% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 31% | 23% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| What stands out | Summersville | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.7% | 9.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
3.2 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The trail density in Summersville is 0.7 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Summersville Lake Wildlife Management Area, at 80 acres.
| Summersville | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 7.3% | 2.5% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park | 0.3 mi | 51 |
| 2. Summersville Lake Wildlife Management Area | — | 80 |
| 3. Summersville Park | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
The Mt Nebo 1 S weather station, 7 miles away, records that about 4 days a year reach 90°, fewer than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Summersville has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Only 5 of the 61 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower July high than Summersville.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Within West Virginia, it does better than 64% of towns.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Homes are within reach (about $192K for the typical one, A− for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 22 miles. Home values rose 40% in five years, to about $192K, against 23% across West Virginia.
Typical home values rose 5.1% in the year to September 2026.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities. Since 1986, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Summersville.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Summersville; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Summersville residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
Where Summersville’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
7 places in Summersville on the National Register of Historic Places.
4 notable people were born in Summersville.
City in West Virginia, United States
Summersville is a city in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,459 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Nicholas County.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Summersville grades C+ overall, better than 37% of U.S. towns and #28 of 61 in West Virginia. It grades D for health, C+ for safety and B+ for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Within West Virginia, it does better than 64% of towns.
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−.
4 notable people were born here, including Stephen Roberts and John D. Alderson.
