Best overall
Putnam County
Overall score 73.2
Economy 67.8 / Affordability 75.3
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in West Virginia
Compare counties in West Virginia by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 55 West Virginia counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in West Virginia
Put West Virginia counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open West Virginia rankings
Open the full West Virginia ranking table with filters.
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Scan county scores geographically across the country.
West Virginia county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Putnam County
Family score 74.8
Schools 80 / Safety 67.2
Best value
Mineral County
Value score 80.4
Affordability 81 / Taxes 82.6
Most affordable
Wyoming County
Affordability 94.8
Typical home $66,139
Best schools
Putnam County
Schools 80
Safety 67.2 / Economy 67.8
Safest
Mingo County
Safety 99.4
Schools 21.5 / Peace 75.5
Low taxes
Grant County
Taxes 89.2
Affordability 74.5 / Typical home $185,577
Peace & quiet
Randolph County
Peace & Quiet 87.6
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in West Virginia
View full- 1Putnam County
Typical home $243,848
73.2
Overall
- 2Jefferson County
Typical home $392,032
70.8
Overall
- 3Marion County
Typical home $160,437
66.1
Overall
- 4Tyler County
Typical home $116,544
65.7
Overall
- 5Monongalia County
Typical home $262,195
65.3
Overall
Best counties for families in West Virginia
View full- 1Putnam County
Typical home $243,848
74.8
Family
- 2Tyler County
Typical home $116,544
70.3
Family
- 3Monongalia County
Typical home $262,195
70.0
Family
- 4Hancock County
Typical home $141,481
67.8
Family
- 5Marion County
Typical home $160,437
66.0
Family
Best value counties in West Virginia
View full- 1Mineral County
Typical home $190,103
80.4
Value
- 2Grant County
Typical home $185,577
79.0
Value
- 3Barbour County
Typical home $119,829
78.6
Value
- 4Marshall County
Typical home $131,150
78.4
Value
- 5Tyler County
Typical home $116,544
77.8
Value
Most affordable counties in West Virginia
View full- 1Wyoming County
Typical home $66,139
94.8
Afford.
- 2Tyler County
Typical home $116,544
93.3
Afford.
- 3Boone County
Typical home $87,572
93
Afford.
- 4Wetzel County
Typical home $115,125
92.8
Afford.
- 5Ritchie County
Typical home $112,863
91.6
Afford.
Best school counties in West Virginia
View full- 1Putnam County
Typical home $243,848
80
Schools
- 2Monongalia County
Typical home $262,195
69.5
Schools
- 3Ohio County
Typical home $155,836
67.9
Schools
- 4Jefferson County
Typical home $392,032
51.7
Schools
- 5Tyler County
Typical home $116,544
45.7
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in West Virginia
View full- 1Grant County
Typical home $185,577
89.2
Taxes
- 2Pendleton County
Typical home $214,776
89.2
Taxes
- 3Tucker County
Typical home $206,840
89.2
Taxes
- 4Summers County
Typical home $157,266
89.2
Taxes
- 5Pocahontas County
Typical home $184,478
89.2
Taxes
Quietest counties in West Virginia
View full- 1Randolph County
Typical home $158,944
87.6
Quiet
- 2Greenbrier County
Typical home $206,360
84.6
Quiet
- 3Wayne County
Typical home $140,060
83.2
Quiet
- 4Jackson County
Typical home $197,160
83.2
Quiet
- 5Grant County
Typical home $185,577
82.9
Quiet
Safest counties in West Virginia
View full- 1Mingo County
Typical home $80,927
99.4
Safety
- 2Mineral County
Typical home $190,103
98.9
Safety
- 3Cabell County
Typical home $166,804
98.8
Safety
- 4McDowell County
Typical home $40,889
98.7
Safety
- 5Upshur County
Typical home $151,288
98.2
Safety
Popular West Virginia county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in West Virginia
The best county in West Virginia depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in West Virginia
For best overall counties in West Virginia, Putnam County, Jefferson County, and Marion County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in West Virginia
For families, Putnam County, Tyler County, and Monongalia County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in West Virginia
For affordability-focused movers, Wyoming County, Tyler County, and Boone County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in West Virginia
For school-first households, Putnam County, Monongalia County, and Ohio County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in West Virginia
For lower tax-pressure searches, Grant County, Pendleton County, and Tucker County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in West Virginia
For quieter-living searches, Randolph County, Greenbrier County, and Wayne County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to West Virginia
Compare county scale carefully in West Virginia; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in West Virginia
What is the best county to live in West Virginia?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Putnam County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in West Virginia for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Putnam County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in West Virginia?
Wyoming County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which West Virginia counties score well for schools or taxes?
Putnam County currently leads the school-score view, while Grant County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All West Virginia counties
Showing all 55 West Virginia counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Putnam County FIPS 54079 | 73.2 | 67.8 | 75.3 | 80 | 67.2 | 74.7 | 78.4 | $243,848 | $79,527 |
| 2 | Jefferson County FIPS 54037 | 70.8 | 91.1 | 55.6 | 51.7 | 86.2 | 76.4 | 63.7 | $392,032 | $98,806 |
| 3 | Marion County FIPS 54049 | 66.1 | 52.7 | 84.5 | 41.6 | 82.6 | 72.5 | 76.6 | $160,437 | $67,370 |
| 4 | Tyler County FIPS 54095 | 65.7 | 33.6 | 93.3 | 45.7 | 89.3 | 75.6 | 78.5 | $116,544 | $63,693 |
| 5 | Monongalia County FIPS 54061 | 65.3 | 57 | 52.4 | 69.5 | 85.6 | 76.2 | 71.8 | $262,195 | $65,346 |
| 6 | Mineral County FIPS 54057 | 65 | 55.4 | 81 | 18.4 | 98.9 | 82.6 | 82.4 | $190,103 | $69,375 |
| 7 | Harrison County FIPS 54033 | 64.7 | 51.5 | 83.5 | 34.7 | 85.3 | 71.8 | 79.7 | $146,770 | $60,377 |
| 8 | Grant County FIPS 54023 | 64.6 | 51.3 | 74.5 | 27.4 | 97.3 | 89.2 | 82.9 | $185,577 | $62,361 |
| 9 | Berkeley County FIPS 54003 | 63.6 | 75.6 | 58.6 | 25.9 | 94.1 | 78.9 | 58.2 | $317,561 | $80,815 |
| 10 | Hancock County FIPS 54029 | 63.5 | 34.9 | 84.7 | 40.8 | 97.9 | 74.4 | 66.5 | $141,481 | $61,466 |
| 11 | Doddridge County FIPS 54017 | 62.9 | 41.2 | 85.1 | 31.2 | 92.3 | 73 | 79.7 | $133,729 | $57,401 |
| 12 | Taylor County FIPS 54091 | 62.1 | 51.8 | 75.1 | 23.7 | 89.6 | 81.5 | 81.2 | $185,971 | $57,795 |
| 13 | Preston County FIPS 54077 | 61.7 | 50 | 86.1 | 14.7 | 87.7 | 75.8 | 79.4 | $141,559 | $61,880 |
| 14 | Pendleton County FIPS 54071 | 61.6 | 63.3 | 62.8 | 43.6 | 58.4 | 89.2 | 74.4 | $214,776 | $64,931 |
| 15 | Wood County FIPS 54107 | 61 | 48.4 | 76.4 | 35.6 | 76 | 74.3 | 77.1 | $171,090 | $57,810 |
| 16 | Kanawha County FIPS 54039 | 60.9 | 51.2 | 81 | 39.4 | 60.3 | 70.4 | 76.7 | $150,833 | $60,943 |
| 17 | Marshall County FIPS 54051 | 60.7 | 39.7 | 86.6 | 14.2 | 95.3 | 78.6 | 81.6 | $131,150 | $59,169 |
| 18 | Monroe County FIPS 54063 | 60.5 | 54.3 | 66.6 | 19.1 | 95.7 | 84.3 | 74.2 | $189,892 | $56,750 |
| 19 | Brooke County FIPS 54009 | 60.1 | 37.6 | 86.7 | 16.4 | 97.4 | 74.3 | 73.9 | $128,107 | $54,316 |
| 20 | Wayne County FIPS 54099 | 60 | 47.1 | 84.6 | 25.9 | 62.5 | 83.4 | 83.2 | $140,060 | $58,878 |
| 21 | Raleigh County FIPS 54081 | 59.8 | 46.1 | 76.8 | 31.4 | 72.9 | 78.3 | 80.1 | $154,732 | $52,150 |
| 22 | Mason County FIPS 54053 | 59.7 | 47.2 | 73.9 | 15.7 | 94.1 | 80.5 | 81.6 | $158,536 | $49,761 |
| 23 | Upshur County FIPS 54097 | 59.7 | 43.3 | 79.4 | 11.4 | 98.2 | 79.7 | 80.9 | $151,288 | $54,338 |
| 24 | Cabell County FIPS 54011 | 59.6 | 48.4 | 69.8 | 23.6 | 98.8 | 71.3 | 68 | $166,804 | $55,832 |
| 25 | Hampshire County FIPS 54027 | 59.6 | 61.7 | 56.9 | 25.3 | 84.6 | 86.2 | 70.8 | $249,557 | $63,116 |
| 26 | Boone County FIPS 54005 | 59.5 | 48.6 | 93 | 24.6 | 55.9 | 70 | 75.6 | $87,572 | $57,093 |
| 27 | Nicholas County FIPS 54067 | 59.3 | 37.6 | 73.9 | 40.6 | 72.3 | 86.7 | 74.8 | $157,121 | $54,639 |
| 28 | Wyoming County FIPS 54109 | 59 | 40.1 | 94.8 | 15.5 | 71 | 77.1 | 77.2 | $66,139 | $48,440 |
| 29 | Barbour County FIPS 54001 | 58.8 | 40.5 | 88.7 | 6.2 | 87 | 81.2 | 81.6 | $119,829 | $51,394 |
| 30 | Jackson County FIPS 54035 | 58.5 | 31.5 | 71.8 | 36.8 | 86.7 | 81.5 | 83.2 | $197,160 | $58,845 |
| 31 | Lewis County FIPS 54041 | 58.3 | 37.7 | 84.3 | 8.4 | 94.9 | 77.8 | 82.3 | $131,893 | $56,477 |
| 32 | Mingo County FIPS 54059 | 57.9 | 19.8 | 88.5 | 21.5 | 99.4 | 78.6 | 75.5 | $80,927 | $38,119 |
| 33 | Mercer County FIPS 54055 | 57.6 | 44.3 | 81.1 | 22.1 | 65.8 | 80.5 | 78 | $140,205 | $53,210 |
| 34 | Logan County FIPS 54045 | 57.1 | 39.6 | 90.3 | 13.6 | 66.9 | 77.8 | 81.3 | $108,155 | $49,723 |
| 35 | Wetzel County FIPS 54103 | 56.4 | 30.9 | 92.8 | 14.1 | 75 | 72.8 | 81.5 | $115,125 | $56,836 |
| 36 | Fayette County FIPS 54019 | 55.9 | 43.5 | 85.5 | 7.2 | 69.5 | 78.4 | 79.4 | $133,029 | $53,194 |
| 37 | Greenbrier County FIPS 54025 | 55.7 | 37.3 | 53.6 | 34.2 | 88 | 86.6 | 84.6 | $206,360 | $48,218 |
| 38 | Ohio County FIPS 54069 | 55.3 | 45.1 | 75 | 67.9 | 10 | 69.3 | 64.4 | $155,836 | $57,094 |
| 39 | Wirt County FIPS 54105 | 54.4 | 22 | 86.6 | 23.8 | 71.7 | 78.8 | 76.3 | $117,804 | $49,867 |
| 40 | Morgan County FIPS 54065 | 54.3 | 63 | 55.8 | 11.9 | 68.5 | 82.8 | 73 | $297,948 | $72,179 |
| 41 | Pleasants County FIPS 54073 | 54.3 | 36.4 | 82.5 | 15 | 64.4 | 78.2 | 81.5 | $163,014 | $60,932 |
| 42 | Hardy County FIPS 54031 | 53.9 | 57.3 | 48.8 | 11.6 | 82.3 | 88.8 | 76.7 | $224,627 | $49,272 |
| 43 | Gilmer County FIPS 54021 | 53.5 | 33.3 | 79.9 | 30 | 45.1 | 87 | 75.2 | $117,899 | $47,981 |
| 44 | Randolph County FIPS 54083 | 53.3 | 31.4 | 73.9 | 15.9 | 71.6 | 86.8 | 87.6 | $158,944 | $52,757 |
| 45 | Roane County FIPS 54087 | 52.9 | 17.9 | 79.3 | 8.6 | 97.9 | 82.9 | 77.8 | $126,879 | $45,778 |
| 46 | Tucker County FIPS 54093 | 52.1 | 52.5 | 58.2 | 17.4 | 55.3 | 89.2 | 75.5 | $206,840 | $53,358 |
| 47 | Calhoun County FIPS 54013 | 52 | 8.3 | 86.7 | 7.1 | 97.7 | 83.4 | 77 | $100,693 | $43,980 |
| 48 | Clay County FIPS 54015 | 50.7 | 20.2 | 77.5 | 42.2 | 35 | 88.8 | 74.9 | $121,590 | $42,318 |
| 49 | Ritchie County FIPS 54085 | 50.4 | 24.2 | 91.6 | 19.4 | 45 | 69.1 | 78.9 | $112,863 | $50,582 |
| 50 | Summers County FIPS 54089 | 50.3 | 27.4 | 60.8 | 10 | 91.4 | 89.2 | 72.6 | $157,266 | $40,699 |
| 51 | McDowell County FIPS 54047 | 50 | 8.7 | 89 | 3.8 | 98.7 | 64.6 | 71.5 | $40,889 | $31,559 |
| 52 | Lincoln County FIPS 54043 | 49.1 | 30.7 | 86.8 | 7.4 | 43.8 | 79.2 | 76 | $106,984 | $46,205 |
| 53 | Braxton County FIPS 54007 | 48.3 | 25.5 | 78.4 | 17.5 | 43.3 | 85.5 | 76 | $140,881 | $50,331 |
| 54 | Webster County FIPS 54101 | 46 | 13.5 | 88 | 15.1 | 35 | 85.9 | 74.7 | $81,680 | $43,839 |
| 55 | Pocahontas County FIPS 54075 | 42.3 | 27.6 | 52.2 | 18.6 | 37.9 | 89.2 | 79.6 | $184,478 | $42,119 |