West Virginia
R+36 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 82
5.12%
Income Tax
278
Violent Crime / 100K
71.9
Life Expectancy
$155K
Median Home
$850
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Taxes
Income Tax
Significant cuts pending legislation
Property Tax
~$883/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Below national avg (~2,100)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Healthcare
State Healthcare Rank
Bottom tier
Life Expectancy
Well below national avg
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Education
K-12 Quality Rank
Bottom 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Below national avg
Utilities & Daily Costs
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the worst roads in the US
Airports & Travel
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
Urban Population
Mostly rural
Restaurant Density
Limited dining options
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.2/100K residents — Growing
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Mountain State Music Festival; Appalachian heritage bluegrass; Smooth Ambler Spirits nationally acclaimed
Transportation
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Below national avg
Social & Legal
Abortion Access
Near-total ban; trigger law took effect after Dobbs
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
5 casino resorts. One of the first states to offer online casino gambling (2019). Sports betting pioneer.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Smooth Ambler country (remote river areas) · WV Naturists
Environment & Climate
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
Job Market
+0.4% job growth · 4.3% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Daily Life
Gas Price (Regular)
Below avg (-0.20 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks broadly legal
Weather & Natural Risks
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 42°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Veteran Benefits
Veteran-Friendly Score
6.5% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Partial exemption for service-connected disability
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore West Virginia counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in West Virginia
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
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West Virginia vs Mississippi
COL 82 vs 82 · 5.12% vs 4.7% income tax
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West Virginia vs Arkansas
COL 82 vs 85 · 5.12% vs 3.9% income tax
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WV vs KY
West Virginia vs Kentucky
COL 82 vs 85 · 5.12% vs 4% income tax
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WV vs KS
West Virginia vs Kansas
COL 82 vs 86 · 5.12% vs 5.7% income tax
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Stay Current
Get notified when West Virginia tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.