Logan County's composite score of 67.0 exceeds the national median of 50.0, though it ranks in the lower half of this West Virginia peer group. The county still performs competitively on the national stage, ranking in the top 40%.
2 / 5
Below state average; economic challenges evident
Logan scores 67.0 against the state average of 72.2, placing it among the lower-performing West Virginia counties in this analysis. The gap reflects specific challenges in income growth and health that limit overall livability.
3 / 5
Excellent affordability and low tax burden
Logan excels in housing cost (88.2) with median rent of $704/month and strong tax efficiency (85.9). These dual affordability factors make it one of the least expensive counties to live in across housing and taxation.
4 / 5
Lowest incomes and weakest health in group
Income (14.2) ranks lowest at $47,237 median household income, indicating severe economic constraints for residents. Health (52.9) is also the weakest among the eight counties, suggesting significant public wellness concerns.
5 / 5
For ultra-frugal residents with limited means
Logan County suits only those with the most modest financial means who can live on under $50,000 annually and prioritize bare-minimum housing costs. If you're facing acute economic pressure and need the cheapest possible lifestyle, Logan provides that option—but also reflects underlying economic distress.
Logan County's composite score of 67.0 exceeds the national median of 50.0, though it ranks in the lower half of this West Virginia peer group. The county still performs competitively on the national stage, ranking in the top 40%.
Below state average; economic challenges evident
Logan scores 67.0 against the state average of 72.2, placing it among the lower-performing West Virginia counties in this analysis. The gap reflects specific challenges in income growth and health that limit overall livability.
Excellent affordability and low tax burden
Logan excels in housing cost (88.2) with median rent of $704/month and strong tax efficiency (85.9). These dual affordability factors make it one of the least expensive counties to live in across housing and taxation.
Lowest incomes and weakest health in group
Income (14.2) ranks lowest at $47,237 median household income, indicating severe economic constraints for residents. Health (52.9) is also the weakest among the eight counties, suggesting significant public wellness concerns.
For ultra-frugal residents with limited means
Logan County suits only those with the most modest financial means who can live on under $50,000 annually and prioritize bare-minimum housing costs. If you're facing acute economic pressure and need the cheapest possible lifestyle, Logan provides that option—but also reflects underlying economic distress.
Score breakdown
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🏛85.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Logan County's effective tax rate of 0.582% sits comfortably below the national median of 0.867%, placing it in the lower half of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $591 represents just 22% of the national median of $2,690.
Above average for West Virginia
Logan County's 0.582% effective rate exceeds West Virginia's state average of 0.497%, ranking in the upper-middle tier among the state's 55 counties. The median property tax of $591 falls below the state median of $699, thanks to Logan's lower-than-average home values of $101,500.
Higher rates than nearby Lewis
Logan's 0.582% rate significantly exceeds Lewis County's best-in-state 0.470%, with Logan residents paying roughly $97 more annually on typical homes. Logan's rate also trails Marion County's 0.602%, making it middle-ground in the region.
Logan's median annual tax bill
The median Logan County home valued at $101,500 generates approximately $591 in annual property tax. Homeowners with mortgages may see this climb to roughly $775 when including local tax adjustments.
Challenge inflated assessments
Logan County homeowners should verify their assessed values haven't drifted above recent comparable sales in their neighborhoods. A free appeal to the county assessor can unlock meaningful savings if your property is overvalued.
Logan County's 17.9% rent-to-income ratio ties the worst in this group, straining the state's lowest median income of $47,237. At $704 monthly rent, Logan householders are among America's most cost-burdened relative to earnings.
Lowest income, highest housing burden ratio
Logan's 17.9% rent-to-income ratio ranks in West Virginia's least-affordable tier, compounded by the county's median income of $47,237—the lowest here. This combination creates acute affordability strain for renters in particular.
Cheap housing, but paychecks are thinner
Logan's $704 rent is competitive with Jackson ($720) and Lewis ($737), yet residents earn $5,000-$8,000 less annually than neighbors. This income shortfall, not rent levels, drives Logan's affordability crisis.
Logan's precarious balance on thin wages
Logan residents earning just $47,237 commit $704 to rent (17.9%), the highest proportional burden statewide, while homeowners spend $502 monthly on $101,500 homes. For renters especially, this leaves minimal margin for health, transportation, or education expenses.
Logan needs income growth more than cheaper housing
Logan's real challenge is wage, not rent: local incomes lag neighbors by thousands despite similar housing costs. Workers here may benefit more from relocating to higher-wage counties like Jefferson or Marion than waiting for rents to fall further.
Logan County's median household income of $47,237 sits 37% below the national median of $74,755, placing it in the bottom 10% of all U.S. counties. The county trails West Virginia's state average of $54,746 by $7,509, reflecting severe economic distress.
West Virginia's lowest-income county examined
Logan County ranks among the very poorest of West Virginia's 55 counties for household income. At $47,237, it falls significantly below state average, driven by coal industry decline and limited economic diversification.
Logan is the region's most economically stressed
Logan's $47,237 median ranks last among the eight counties examined, falling $1,356 below even Lincoln County. The county faces intensified challenges from historical dependence on coal mining and post-recession recovery gaps.
Housing burdens compound financial strain
At 17.9% of household income, Logan's rent-to-income ratio reaches critical stress levels, and median home values of $101,500 stretch already-limited resources. Residents face extraordinary difficulty affording stable housing relative to earnings.
Logan can access specialized financial aid
Logan residents facing economic hardship can access federal and state assistance programs, community development grants, and nonprofit financial counseling. Focus first on emergency savings and debt reduction before investing; local organizations can provide targeted support.
Logan County's 66.2-year life expectancy is 8.3 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years—among the lowest life expectancies recorded in America. At 29.2% reporting poor or fair health, nearly 3 in 10 residents live with chronic illness or disability.
Second-worst health in West Virginia
Logan's 66.2-year life expectancy is 6 years below West Virginia's state average of 72.2 years, second only to Lincoln County. The 29.2% poor/fair health rate ranks as the second-highest in the state, reflecting a multi-generational health crisis.
Dramatically outpaced by healthier counties
Logan residents live 6.9 years fewer than Harrison County (73.1 years) and 9.7 years fewer than Jefferson County (75.9 years). With just 41 primary care providers per 100K and 130 mental health providers per 100K, Logan's healthcare workforce cannot meet the demand driven by widespread chronic disease.
Highest uninsured rate plus provider gaps
Logan's 8.4% uninsured rate is the highest in this sample, meaning roughly 1 in 12 residents lack coverage entirely. Combined with sparse provider density, uninsured residents face doubled barriers: no coverage to pay for care and no doctors nearby to receive it.
Coverage is critical in Logan
If you're uninsured in Logan, healthcare.gov and WV Medicaid (1-855-WVHEALTHYY) are your lifelines—immediate enrollment can prevent catastrophic illness and debt. Every person covered strengthens the county's ability to reverse its health decline.
Logan County's composite risk score of 79.23 significantly exceeds West Virginia's state average of 49.21, placing it in the relatively low risk category but with elevated overall exposure. This reflects substantial flood and wildfire vulnerability concentrated in southern portions of the county.
Logan ranks among West Virginia's higher-risk counties
Logan County scores 79.23 on the composite disaster risk scale, placing it in the upper tier of West Virginia's 55 counties for overall hazard exposure. The county faces compounded threats from both flooding and wildfire that demand serious preparedness attention.
Logan County's composite score of 79.23 exceeds Harrison County's 73.60, driven primarily by Logan's exceptional wildfire risk of 82.57 versus Harrison's 25.22. Both counties face similar flood exposure (Logan 89.38, Harrison 86.70), but Logan's wildfire threat creates substantially greater overall vulnerability.
Wildfire and flooding dominate Logan's hazards
Wildfire poses an exceptional threat to Logan County with a risk score of 82.57, the highest among all hazard types. Flooding ranks second at 89.38, creating a compound vulnerability where both hazards can occur simultaneously and amplify disaster impacts.
Wildfire and flood protection are critical priorities
Logan County's 82.57 wildfire risk means you must ensure comprehensive wildfire coverage on your homeowners policy and actively maintain defensible space around your property. Couple this with mandatory flood insurance for the 89.38 flood risk, and consider separate umbrella coverage given the elevated compound hazard exposure.