8 Most Comfortable West Virginia Towns For Seniors For 2025

When you think of West Virginia as "Almost Heaven", you probably think of the outdoor scenery, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Ohio River. Yet, strange as it seems, natural beauty may not be West Virginia's most attractive feature. Instead, it is affordability. According to data from realtor.com, the state's median listing price for September 2025 was $261,500. The truth is, no other state in the country beats that. Still, you can get some nice property on the cheap, yet face the prospect of driving for 3 hours to access a physician. That's why you always have to balance several factors. So, which are the most comfortable West Virginia towns to retire to in 2025? Find the winners below.

Charleston

Charleston, the capital of West Virginia, is a vibrant town with a lot of tempting features. The median listing home price in Charleston was $165,000 in August 2025, about 63% of the statewide median. Similarly, residents have a median age of 42, meaning you can hang out with both the old and young. Keep in mind that you are in an academically stimulating environment, especially with institutions like the University of Charleston, Charleston School of Beauty Culture, and Ross Medical Education Center-Charleston, which offer various programs at the certificate and diploma levels, including specialties such as Medical Insurance Billing, Dental Assisting, and Pharmacy Technician.

Once in a while, you can float down the Kanawha River, spend an afternoon browsing the West Virginia State Museum, or bike the well-maintained trails inside Kanawha State Forest. On healthcare access, CAMC Memorial Hospital has been recognized as a Best Regional Hospital by the U.S. News and World Report (2024-25).

Oak Hill

There is something about retiring in the Appalachian Mountains that sounds like winning a lottery. The air is crisp and fresh, the environment is incredibly beautiful and mind-rousing, and everything just feels healthy and wholesome. In Oak Hill, you can unwind with a gripping read at the Oak Hill Public Library, challenge yourself at the Collins Park Disc Golf Course with its diverse holes and shots, or explore the striking rock formations and blue-blazed trails of Needleseye Park.

The show-stopper, however, is the nearby New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, an outdoor playground with incredibly beautiful views. The other good thing is that you are at the doorstep of the Plateau Medical Center, one of southern West Virginia's leading healthcare providers. The median age is 41.5, the sweet spot between old and young, while the median listing home price, according to data from realtor.com, is a pocket-friendly $199,000, way below the September 2025 statewide median of $261,500.

Vienna

With a population of about 10,000 residents, Vienna is small but not so tiny as to have no life in it. You will enjoy a modest level of creature comforts and conveniences, including the 5-star rated Vienna Public Library, a decent number of restaurants and shopping venues ( including the phenomenal Grand Central Mall), and a beautiful park —McDonough Park —a woodsy, peaceful space crisscrossed with awesome hiking trails.

Meanwhile, the Ohio River, which froths along the town's western rim, provides water-themed recreational opportunities. In September 2025, the median listing home price in Vienna was $257,000, slightly below the statewide median. Similarly, the median age is about 40, just where life starts. There's Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg, which has been providing medical services to the area residents since 1898.

Buckhannon

According to Safewise, Buckhannon is the fourth-safest town in West Virginia for 2025. Not just that. It is regularly ranked among the safest locations in the state. It has an awesome downtown, quiet and safe neighborhoods, a fantastic college (the 135-year-old West Virginia Wesleyan College), and some great hometown businesses. The Annual Strawberry Festival is a blast, and lights up the town every year in May. No place is perfect, but this is Small Town America at its best.

St Joseph's Hospital, which has been serving residents for more than 100 years, is at your doorstep. The same is true for the Buckhannon River, which meanders through the town, the exquisite Buckhannon River Walk Trail, and North End Park, a great place to spend time with friends and family, or to walk the perimeter path. In September 2025, the median listing home price in Buckhannon was $219,500. On the flip side, residents have a median age of 32, so brace yourself for a spark of youthful energy.

Bridgeport

Bridgeport is a family-friendly community with a great school system, a local airport for ease of travel, and several outdoor playgrounds for hiking, ATV riding, fishing, and others. To crown it all, Safewise ranks Bridgeport the fifth-safest town in West Virginia for 2025. It may look classy and expensive, but Bridgeport is surprisingly affordable. Although the median listing home price in Bridgeport was $329,000 in September 2025, the median sold home price was way lower: just $282,000.

You have the reputable United Hospital Center, recognized for America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery Award, and outdoor attractions like Hinkle Lake, a premier bass-fishing venue, Deegan Lake, where you can enjoy non-motorized boating, and Bridgeport City Park, a nice venue to rest or people-watch. Residents have a median age of 43, implying an enticingly balanced demographic.

Weirton

Weirton is neat, friendly, and peaceful. If you are intentional, you can get a place where you can always see the stars at night and enjoy much more tranquility. Keep in mind that Weirton is often ranked among the safest locations in West Virginia. In August 2025, the median listing home price in Weirton was $187,500, about 70% of the statewide median. In the same vein, residents have a median age of 45, meaning a decent percentage are fellow empty nesters.

You can reach Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in under an hour, and enjoy the cultural attractions that define it, or explore nearby outdoor spots like the 981-mile Ohio River, which flows along the town's western edge, the swoon-worthy Williams Golf & Country Club, one of the best courses in the tri-state area, and the trail-laden Hillman State Park. Regarding healthcare access, Weirton Medical Center is conveniently located nearby and has previously been recognized as the best in West Virginia for heart care.

Moundsville

One of Moundsville's most appealing aspects is affordability. In September 2025, the median listing home price in Moundsville was $139,900. The truth is, it rarely gets lower than this. But not just that. You have immediate access to Grand Vue Park, an incredibly gorgeous space with sumptuous views and several fun-filled activities, the Ohio River, and the Moundsville Country Club, arguably the only real golf course between Wheeling and Marietta.

The back nine here is on the river with views that anyone would die for. Another comforting feature of the town is that WVU Reynolds Memorial Hospital is just around the corner. At the same time, WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital — just a short drive away — has been nationally recognized for four consecutive years by the American Heart Association for its commitment to best practices. Moundsville residents have a median age of 44.5.

Barboursville

Barboursville is pretty and quiet, and always has minimal crime. It has a decent number of chain stores, restaurants (for a spontaneous brunch), and a slew of locally owned businesses. Retirement here means you enjoy an endearing small-town feel but with all the conveniences of a mid-sized city. The best part is that Huntington, West Virginia’s second-largest city, is just 9 miles east of town. Beech Fork State Park, a mind-bending space with a delightful range of outdoor recreational opportunities, is just south of town. It has a sprawling 720-acre Lake with about 30 miles of shoreline, where you can cast a line and catch some of the state's most tongue-tingling delicacies. St. Mary's Medical Center is in the area and has previously been recognized for the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery Award.

You can while away the time at Barboursville Park, the second-largest municipal park in West Virginia, the Guyandotte River, or the Beech Fork Lake Wildlife Management Area, a cool place for camping, fishing, or swimming. The median listing home price in Barboursville was $225,000 in September 2025. The median age, however, is 35, meaning you will be brushing shoulders with vibrant and cheerful folks, most of whom are still full of life.

West Virginia is not some drab, average place. For starters, the state's landscape inspired one of America's most timeless songs. You will find craggy mountaintops, sweeping views of verdant valleys, and lush greenery. You will also find a cornucopia of small, beautiful towns, many of which offer modern conveniences a heartbeat away from heart-gripping outdoor attractions. So, if you are about to enter your golden years, you have to be intentional to make it genuinely golden. Fortunately, West Virginia is studded with several comfortable spots.