countyscore

Best Counties for Families in West Virginia 2026

55 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in West Virginia

1Pendleton County
77.1
2Pleasants County
76
3Monroe County
73
4Doddridge County
70.6
5Putnam County
65

All 55 Family-Ranked Counties in West Virginia

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Pendleton County, WV7877.1
2Pleasants County, WV7676
3Monroe County, WV7373
4Doddridge County, WV7270.6
5Putnam County, WV7165
6Wetzel County, WV7166.6
7Ohio County, WV7066.6
8Gilmer County, WV7073.7
9Hancock County, WV6967
10Tyler County, WV6869.8
11Brooke County, WV6870.7
12Mason County, WV6668
13Grant County, WV6670.2
14Webster County, WV6569.7
15Clay County, WV6469.9
16Roane County, WV6467.5
17Tucker County, WV6270.7
18Jefferson County, WV6155.9
19Braxton County, WV6168.6
20Taylor County, WV6167.8
21Calhoun County, WV6167.9
22Mineral County, WV6163.5
23Berkeley County, WV6154.7
24Mingo County, WV5963.6
25Wirt County, WV5968.2
26Preston County, WV5963.8
27Wyoming County, WV5861.5
28Boone County, WV5858.8
29Nicholas County, WV5863.7
30Greenbrier County, WV5859
31Marion County, WV5854.4
32Lincoln County, WV5761.9
33Harrison County, WV5756.3
34Hampshire County, WV5664
35Randolph County, WV5662.7
36Barbour County, WV5662.8
37Jackson County, WV5561.8
38Upshur County, WV5563.7
39Logan County, WV5558.4
40Summers County, WV5260.9
41Ritchie County, WV5259.8
42Marshall County, WV5256.8
43Morgan County, WV5257
44Lewis County, WV5062.2
45Wayne County, WV5055.5
46Mercer County, WV4955.9
47McDowell County, WV4957
48Hardy County, WV4856.3
49Pocahontas County, WV4658.1
50Fayette County, WV4550.7
51Monongalia County, WV4451.4
52Wood County, WV3746.5
53Kanawha County, WV3641.5
54Cabell County, WV3441.6
55Raleigh County, WV3042

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in West Virginia?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Pendleton County ranks as the top family county in West Virginia with a family score of 78.

How many counties in West Virginia are ranked for families?

We rank 55 counties in West Virginia for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse West Virginia Counties For

RetirementRemote WorkersBest Overall

Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.