City of War WV sign, 2013
War’s story
120 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1906War is settled
WarWV
A town of 536, settled in 1906.
Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
536
2025 Census estimate · −13.8% since 2020
Typical home
$32K
−16.3% in a year
Household income
$30K
median
Median age
45.0
years
Jobs based here
34
A commuter town
Is War a good place to live?
War’s typical journey to work is 37 minutes, above both West Virginia’s towns (21 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 53 West Virginia towns we compare, none has a lower typical home value than War. War’s concentration of trails is 1.1 miles per square mile, above both the West Virginia town median (0.4) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). War has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
536 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to War: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in War, and how to reach them.
PowerAppalachian Power17.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWar Water Works City Realty1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have War’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn West Virginia you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMcDowell Clerk of the County CommissionMcDowell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP codes24892, 2489424892 71% · 24894 29%Census 2020
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 War.
Housing
A typical War home is worth about $32K
Typical home values fell 16% in the year to September 2026. The rent at the middle of the market in War is $703 a month. 71% of War households own their home.
$32KZillow home value
| War | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $703 a month | $878 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 68% | 73% |
Typical home value
War$32K
West Virginia$177K
−16.3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Schools
The schools War’s kids attend
The public schools here belong to the McDowell County Schools. Its one school is below. Enrollment at War’s public school: 266 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside K-8Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 266 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts
Natural hazards
War faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Since 1978, War has seen 14 flood insurance claims paid out. Compared with 88% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage locally is higher. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 71% come from inland flooding and 23% from cold waves. Federal aid has come to War households in 11 declared disasters; the latest was in 2025.
88risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
14
paid flood claims since 1978
11
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
More of War’s residents live below the poverty line than in the typical West Virginia or U.S. town
Employers in War shed 247 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 34. The top destinations are Welch (9%), Tazewell (7%) and Charleston (4%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 26 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In War0%
Welch9%
Tazewell7%
Charleston4%
Marion2%
26 mi
median commute distance
34
jobs based in War
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in War
The range runs from 24° on a January night to 85° on a July afternoon, with about 18 inches of snow a winter.
18″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–46°
Spring41–67°
Summer61–84°
Fall43–68°
Oct 18
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
War stands out in West Virginia and nationally: a larger share of its adults get no exercise outside work
No town among the 62 in West Virginia we compare has a higher share of adults who have diabetes than War. Among adults locally, 12% binge drink. Against the West Virginia average, War comes out ahead on 1 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 17.
| War | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 24% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 18% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 16% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 14% |
32 measures vs. West Virginia
1 better14 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | War | WV |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 17.6% | 10.6% |
Welch Community Hospital
10.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 587 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about War
19pages on War
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of War; the nearest are
Appalachian College of PharmacyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Oakwood, VA19.4 miSouthwest Virginia Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Cedar Bluff, VA22 mi$5,075 in-state tuitionBluefield State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Bluefield24.2 mi$10,648 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 War residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave War for work
Where War’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
34jobs based in War
0%of working residents work in town
26 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About War
City in West Virginia, United States
War is a city in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 690 at the 2020 census. War was incorporated in 1920 by the Circuit Court of McDowell County. Its name is derived from War Creek, whose confluence with Dry Fork is located within the city. War is the only place in the United States with this name. War was formerly known as Miner's City.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,342 ft
- ZIP code
- 24892
- Area code
- 304
Questions about War
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is War, WV a good place to live?
War has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.