10 Best Towns In West Virginia To Retire Comfortably
West Virginia is becoming a popular spot for retirees to relocate. It houses unimaginable natural beauty, imposes low property and sales taxes, and offers reduced tax rates on Social Security retirement benefits. West Virginia also provides affordable housing and a comfortable way of life. Per Zillow.com, the median home value in the state is $169,928. Read on to discover ten of the best towns in West Virginia that may enable you to retire comfortably.
Beckley
The county seat of Raleigh County, Beckley, in southern West Virginia, is about 55 miles southeast of Charleston, and 100 miles east of border with Kentucky. According to the US Census Bureau, its population is just over 16,500. With median home values at $140,121, lower than the state average, Beckley is becoming an attractive option for retirees.
Active seniors will be pleased to know that the Lewis McManus Memorial Honor Trail runs 4.1 miles through town. Those interested in the arts will appreciate the Beckley Arts Center, as well as Theatre West Virginia, putting on live theater performances within Grandview State Park. Every August, Beckley hosts the Appalachian Art and Crafts Fair. Another draw for retirees to move to Beckley is that the town is home to more than one hospital - Raleigh General Hospital and Beckley Appalachian Regional Healthcare Hospital.
Buckhannon
In Upshur County, on the Buckhannon River, just one hour south of Morgantown, you'll find the small town of Buckhannon, population just over 5,100. The town's mayor says Buckhannon is "a modern-day Mayberry," and it's hard to disagree with this sentiment. Home values under the state average, at $159,137, also cannot be denied as a great reason to move to Buckhannon.
Buckhannon's welcoming atmosphere reminds me of Mayberry, a fictional television town. Its shops, including Artistry on Main, and eateries are charming and quaint. Buckhannon also hosts many festivals that foster community spirit. The Strawberry Festival is held each May, and in the summer, the town hosts Festival Fridays, complete with music, food, and fun. St. Joseph's Hospital, part of WVU Medicine, is located in town and easily accessible should medical care be needed.
Elkins
About two hours from Charleston, in Randolph County, the small town of Elkins lies within the Tygart River Valley. Home to just under 7,000 people, Elkins' average home prices are just under the state average, at $169,153. Many are familiar with the town due to it being the headquarters of the Monongahela National Forest, which is located in the Allegheny Mountains of east central West Virginia.
Elkins is another small, welcoming town that has a strong focus on the arts. The Randolph County Community Arts Center in town is a showcase for regional artists as well as instruction and education in the arts. The Old Brick Playhouse is a performing arts theater right in town. Medical care is provided at Davis Medical Center, an 80-bed acute care hospital in Elkins.
Glenville
The tiny town of Glenville is in Gilmer County on the Little Kanawha River, about an hour and a half northwest of the state capital of Charleston in central West Virginia. About 1,000 people live in Glenville, and home prices average an affordable $120,358, drawing retirees to move to this hamlet. It is also home to Glenville State University, which offers a discount on tuition for senior citizens.
Cedar Creek State Park and its 2,588 wooded acres is another popular Glenville area attraction for its variety of recreational activities. Even though the town is small, it hosts a large festival, the West Virginia State Folk Festival, with music, history, and crafts each June. Medical care is available in town at the Glenville Clinic of the Minnie Hamilton Health Center. Should an actual hospital be required, the Minnie Hamilton Health System Hospital is just 20 miles to the west of Glenville.
Hinton
About an hour north of West Virginia's southern border with Virginia, you'll find the small town of Hinton in Summers County, on the Greenbrier, New River, and Bluestone Lake. Almost 2,000 people call Hinton home, and average home prices of $131,656 are a major draw in making the decision to move to Hinton. The natural beauty of New River Gorge National Park is another likely attraction for those looking to make the move.
Hinton's historic district is quaint and welcoming, with charming shops to browse. These include Jack's Bargain Barn, Hinton Outfitters, and Otter and Oak. A 25-bed acute care hospital, Summers County Appalachian Reg Hospital, is also located in Hinton, and serves many needs of the population. If more intensive medical care is needed, Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley is a short drive away.
Oak Hill
Fayette County's small town of Oak Hill, about an hour south of Charleston, is the perfect place to get away from the big city yet still be near enough to enjoy its amenities should the desire arise. Just over 8,000 live in Oak Hill, where home prices are also much more affordable than they are in the state's capital, averaging $142,889. The town sits at an elevation of almost 2,000 feet in the Appalachian Mountains. The White Oak Rail Trail, an eight-mile paved trail running through Oak Hill, can help active seniors who move to town to remain active.
Oak Hill's Main Street has its own charming shops and boutiques, such as Village Antiques & Things, The Hive Spa & Boutique, and Mountain State Masterpieces. CAMC Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill offers emergency care, primary care, and imaging services. Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley is just 20 minutes away if more medical services are needed.
Parkersburg
In Wood County, where the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers join, lies the town of Parkersburg. It is about 90 miles from Columbus, Ohio, and an hour north of Charleston. Just under 30,000 people live in Parkersburg, where home values average $143,880. It is also a beautiful area, and is home to the Johnson T. James Park, the largest nature preserve housed within a town in West Virginia.
Additionally, Parkersburg residents appreciate the arts, with Parkersburg Art Center providing a showcase for local and regional artists, and the Historic Smoot Theater putting on live performances for all to enjoy. Every August, the town's welcoming spirit comes alive during the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival. This annual event features entertainment, crafts, and food. Retirees who move to Parkersburg will be pleased to discover that the town is home to a top-notch hospital, the WVU Camden Clark Medical Center.
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant is a small town of about 4,000 residents in Mason County, just 100 miles from the border with Ohio. The town sits at the junction of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, and home values average $153,756, under the state median. History is a large part of Point Pleasant's attraction, with Riverfront Park home to statues and murals telling the story of the Battle of Point Pleasant during the American Revolution.
The town's Main Street has a welcoming feel with an array of quaint shops including Point Pleasant Trading Company and Mason Jar. Hungry townsfolk enjoy meeting in Coffee Grinder for breakfast, lunch, pastries and, of course, coffee. If you are ever in need of medical care, Point Pleasant can fulfill that need, with Rivers Health, a regional general hospital located within the town.
Summersville
Summersville, the county seat of Nicholas County, is about an hour and a half east of Charleston. The town of just under 3,500 is well-known for Summersville Lake, the largest lake in West Virginia, at 2,700 acres with 60 miles of shoreline, offering vast recreational possibilities. It is also becoming known for affordable housing prices just over the state average, at $179,529.
The small town of Summersville has a congenial community atmosphere, some of which comes from its many unique shops, like Tennile's Boutique and Formals, and Last Shepherd Thrift. Each September, the Nicholas County Potato Festival is held in town. Medical care in town is provided by Summersville Regional Medical Center.
Wheeling
The town of Wheeling, in Ohio County, is in West Virginia's northern panhandle. Found on the Ohio River at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, this town, circa 1769, is just 55 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is home to roughly 26,000 residents. Home prices here are under the state average, at $144,363. The combination of affordable housing and its proximity to a larger city makes Wheeling quite appealing to many retirees.
The arts are an important part of Wheeling, evidenced by the Wheeling Artisan Center Shop on Main Street. As the town is one of the oldest in the state, history is also vital to the town, and the Wheeling Historical Society & Museum on Wolf Road is a great place to learn more about the town's roots. West Virginia University's Wheeling Hospital is located in town for any medical needs, which should add a feeling of security to any retiree's decision to move to Wheeling.
The charm, affordability, natural beauty, and friendly folk living in West Virginia's towns make it the perfect place for retirees to relocate. Whether you choose to move to the mountains and enjoy the serenity of towns like Elkins or Oak Hill, or prefer to live in a suburban area closer to major cities, such as Wheeling, moving to any of these ten West Virginia towns during your retirement years could be one of the best decisions you have ever made.
