9 Best Places To Call Home In West Virginia In 2025
If you are about to pull the plug on your current life and are considering a more adventurous phase, West Virginia is a fantastic place. First, you will save lots of cash. According to July 2025 data gleaned from realtor.com, West Virginia is the most affordable state in the nation right now, especially when it comes to real estate. Houses in the state fetch a median listing price of just $270,000, way lower than $410,800, the median in the US for the second quarter of 2025. With its leaping cascades, wild rivers, and the phenomenal Blue Ridge Mountains, outdoor lovers have every reason to smile. But which are the best spots? Keep reading to discover the nine best places to call home in West Virginia in 2025.
Oak Hill
You can choose to retire in a drab, dusty place, or in the Appalachian Mountains, where laid-back luxury and outdoor adventures are the norm. Even if you don't like the outdoors, places like the Oak Hill Public Library are cool places to spend time during the day with a gripping read, then slide down for a hearty meal at one of the many inviting restaurants. There is the Collins Park Disc Golf Course, which features a great variety of holes and shots, and Needleseye Park, great for hiking and keeping fit. Taking the cue, the nearby New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, renowned for its stunning scenery, also features lovely hiking trails and provides opportunities for white-water rafting, rock climbing, and fishing. Keep in mind that retirees have immediate access to Plateau Medical Center, one of southern West Virginia's leading healthcare providers. To cap it off, the median listing home price in Oak Hill was $195,000 in July 2025, significantly below the statewide median of $270,000.
Star City
Star City was founded in 1907 and named by Louis Kauffeld, general manager of the Star Glass Company, celebrated as the first lamp chimney producer in West Virginia. Today, while not known for glass, Star City is a place most retirees will instantly fall in love with. An empty nester will be close to West Virginia University and to the university's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a place to connect with new friends and thrive through lifelong learning inside and outside the classroom. On healthcare, the highly rated Mon Health Medical Center has been the recipient of numerous awards, including America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery. Also, the scenic Monongahela River flows through the town and provides a delightful range of outdoor recreational opportunities. Core Arboretum in Morgantown is a beautiful place with cheery wildflowers and picturesque trails, while Edith Barill Riverfront Park & Trail, which is right in town, is a great place to establish a walking routine. The median listing home price in Star City was $194,900 in July 2025, a pocket-friendly level by any measurement.
Vienna
Vienna is one of Ohio Valley’s most thriving business centers, which means a retiree should expect a modest level of creature comforts and conveniences. Much of the town's character is due to the phenomenal Grand Central Mall, the premier retail destination in the region. It is also West Virginia’s first enclosed shopping mall. Meanwhile, the Ohio River, which flows on the town's western rims, provides space for boating or kayaking on the water. There is Minibel Par 3 Golf Course, for a spontaneous afternoon round of golf, and Spencer's Landing, a fantastic place to sit or walk along the river. In July 2025, the median listing home price in Vienna was a reasonable $244,900, a price point that comes with access to 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. This is not a rare feat. Buckhannon is regularly ranked among the safest locations in the state. The town is loved for its stunning downtown area, a delightful stretch adorned with beautiful flowers and other mind-rousing aesthetic elements. St Joseph's Hospital, which has been serving residents for more than 100 years, was awarded the Gold Honors Award for 2024 by the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA). Also, aside from being at the doorstep of the West Virginia Wesleyan College, meaning you can grab an interesting course in your sunset years, retirees have access to several outdoor pleasure spots, including the Buckhannon River, which meanders through the town, the exquisite Buckhannon River Walk Trail, and North End Park, a relaxing place for riding your bike in the morning. In July 2025, the median listing home price in Buckhannon was $244,900.
Bridgeport
As a retiree, the need to prioritize safe neighborhoods can never be over-emphasized. You don't want to retire in a place with anxiety-inducing levels of crime. Fortunately, Safewise ranks Bridgeport the fifth-safest town in West Virginia for 2025, meaning you can drop your guard down a bit and just enjoy what retirement offers. Although it has a touch of affluence, Bridgeport is surprisingly affordable. The median listing home price in Bridgeport was $299,900 in July 2025, just a hair above the statewide median of $270,000. Keep in mind that you have immediate access to the reputable United Hospital Center, recognized for the America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery Award. Outdoor spots include Hinkle Lake, a premier bass-fishing venue, Deegan Lake, and Bridgeport City Park, where you can always walk your dog or stretch your muscles.
Weirton
Even by West Virginia standards, a median listing house price of $189,900 can be the deciding factor. But Weirton is not just affordable. It is a decent place to live a quiet, undisturbed life, especially with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose cultural scene is epic, is just under an hour to the east. You are at the doorstep of the Ohio River, which flows along the town's western edge, and the highly rated Williams Golf & Country Club, whose greens are some of the nicest, truest surfaces to play on in the tri-state area. The trail-laden Hillman State Park, which is in neighboring Burgettstown, is a fun place for hunting and trapping. If worried about healthcare, Weirton Medical Center, or WMC, is a 238-bed acute care hospital located on US Route 22. It has previously been recognized as a Top 100 hospital in the United States and the best in West Virginia for heart care.
Williamstown
Williamstown lies along the rustic shores of the Ohio River and boasts several irresistible allurements. You will enjoy the slow and laid-back intimacy of a small town, while having 15-minute access to Parkersburg, one of West Virginia’s largest cities. Selby General Hospital in Marietta, Ohio, which has been recognized for the Outstanding Patient Experience Award, is even closer. If you are not the type to be always marooned inside the house, you have several places to explore. These include the Ohio River, the nearby Gunlock Park, a neat, well-maintained space to walk or bike, and the Stacy Family Farm, one of the best local places to hand-pick strawberries, blueberries, and asparagus. In July 2025, the median listing home price in Williamstown was $249,000.
Barboursville
Barboursville is a neat, small town of less than 5,000 residents. This means relationships can quickly become deep and meaningful. Also, the town is conveniently located close to the US Route 60 and just about 9 miles east of Huntington, West Virginia’s second-largest city. In effect, you are always minutes away from all kinds of big-city amenities, including excellent hospitals. These include St. Mary's Medical Center, recognized for America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery Award, and the highly ranked Cabell Huntington Hospital, which has been serving the community since 1956.
Keep in mind that Barboursville Park spans more than 700 acres, and, therefore, is the second-largest municipal park in West Virginia. It offers several recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, and picnicking. Other upbeat outdoor venues include Guyandotte River, Beech Fork Lake Wildlife Management Area, for camping, fishing, or swimming, and Nancy Cartmill Gardens, a peaceful and relaxing place to go look at the water fountain, sit at the gazebo and eat, or just walk around and drift into bliss. The median listing home price in Barboursville was $225,000 in July 2025.
Ripley
Although mostly associated with the Fourth of July celebration, the oldest parade and Independence Day Celebration in West Virginia, Ripley is also an awesome place to consider for retirement. It is small, peaceful, and safe, yet features many unique shops to peruse. That said, Ripley is about 35 minutes to Charleston, WV and 45 minutes to Parkersburg, WV. On healthcare, Jackson General Hospital is in Ripley and has been providing excellent medical services to area residents since 1964. You have Rollins Lake, a hidden outdoor gem known for excellent fishing opportunities, and Rollins Lake Wildlife Management Area. There is also Wilderness RV Sites Campground, a small but cool place to spend a quiet night in nature. The median listing home price in Ripley was a budget-friendly $215,000 in July 2025.
From craggy mountaintops and a landscape that inspired one of America's most timeless songs, West Virginia is a dream retirement destination. Aside from being the most affordable state as of July 2025, the financial technology company SmartAsset considers West Virginia a tax-friendly state. Social Security benefits and other types of retirement income are only partially taxed. Dotting the breadth of the state is a cornucopia of small, beautiful towns, many of which offer modern conveniences with a touch of the wild and the rustic. From Oak Hill to Ripley, you won't miss finding a place that looks designed with you in mind.
