Best places to live in West Virginia
CityLedger tracks 2 West Virginia metros, led by Huntington. Cost of living runs from about 88 to 89 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 2 metros in West Virginia, the largest being the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metro Area (around 366,760 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $61,625 in Charleston to $61,741 in Huntington, and typical rent from $851 a month in Charleston upward — a reminder that "West Virginia" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Huntington is the standout for affordability: it carries West Virginia's lowest overall price level (about 88 against a U.S. average of 100) and, because pay holds up against those low costs, also the state's highest cost-adjusted income — about $69,825, the clearest sign of where a paycheck stretches furthest.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: West Virginia levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 6.6% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and West Virginia state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Huntington earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 35/100; Huntington is the fastest-growing, up 3.1% over the latest population estimate; Huntington carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $22 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 35 | 88 | $61,741 | $914/mo |
| Charleston, WV | 34 | 89 | $61,625 | $851/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in West Virginia — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in West Virginia?
- By overall price level, Huntington is the most affordable metro in West Virginia, at about 88 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in West Virginia?
- Huntington has the highest cost-adjusted income in West Virginia — a median of about $69,825 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does West Virginia have a state income tax?
- Yes. West Virginia levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 6.6%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which West Virginia metro has the highest livability score?
- Huntington, at 35/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.