CountyScore

Wood County

West Virginia · WV

#46 in West Virginia
68.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Wood County, West Virginia

Wood beats the national benchmark

Wood County's composite score of 68.9 is 38% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper half of American counties despite being a smaller West Virginia jurisdiction. The score reflects solid fundamentals across multiple livability dimensions.

Below average for West Virginia

At 68.9, Wood falls below the state average of 72.2, ranking in the lower third of West Virginia counties. The gap suggests specific vulnerabilities relative to peers rather than broad livability problems.

Health and income lead the way

Wood posts the highest health score (64.7) and income score (20.1) among these seven counties, with a median household income of $56,193—the strongest in this group. Health outcomes suggest better medical infrastructure and wellness access than typical for rural Appalachia.

Elevated risk and higher tax burden

The risk score of 20.2 indicates significant natural hazard or economic vulnerability, matching Wayne County as the lowest in this group. An effective tax rate of 0.614% is also above peers, limiting budget relief.

Best for those prioritizing earnings

Wood County suits workers and families with above-average incomes who value health services and can absorb higher risk exposure. It's the strongest income choice in this group, though residents should understand and prepare for its vulnerability profile.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax85Cost84.3SafetyComing SoonHealth64.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome20.1Risk20.2WaterComing Soon
🏛85
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼20.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤64.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡20.2
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Wood County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Coffee County
Alabama
68.9
Median income: $64,672
Walker County
Alabama
68.9
Median income: $54,509
Arkansas County
Arkansas
68.9
Median income: $60,831
Jackson County
Arkansas
68.9
Median income: $41,215
Sevier County
Arkansas
68.9
Median income: $51,641

Deep Dives

Wood County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Wood County

via TaxByCounty

Wood's rate beats national, but barely

Wood County's effective tax rate of 0.614% is noticeably lower than the typical American property tax, though higher than most West Virginia peers. The median property tax of $943 is still just one-third the national median of $2,690, reflecting more modest home values of $153,700.

Second-highest tax rate in the state

Wood County's 0.614% effective rate ranks among West Virginia's highest, exceeding the state average of 0.497% by 24%. The median property tax of $943 is the highest in the state and 35% above the state median of $699, making Wood one of the state's pricier tax jurisdictions.

Clearly the most expensive nearby county

Wood County's 0.614% rate and $943 median tax dwarf those of all neighboring counties—more than double Webster's rate (0.389%) and nearly triple its tax ($303). Only Wetzel (0.646%) comes close to Wood's tax burden, yet even Wetzel residents pay $279 less annually in median taxes.

A $154k home costs $943 yearly

Wood County's median home value of $153,700 results in approximately $943 in annual property taxes—the highest median in the region. Homeowners with mortgages pay about $1,065, while those without mortgages average $825.

High rates make appeals especially worthwhile

With Wood County's elevated property tax burden, filing an assessment appeal is a smart financial move and costs nothing. Even a modest reduction in your assessed value could save hundreds annually, making an appeal highly worthwhile if your home is overassessed.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Wood County

via CostByCounty

Wood County achieves state average affordability

Wood's 16.9% rent-to-income ratio exactly matches West Virginia's state average, offering a representative view of the state's typical housing burden. With a $56,193 median household income and $789 monthly rent, Wood demonstrates balanced affordability for a mid-sized county.

Wood mirrors West Virginia's affordability profile

Wood County's 16.9% rent-to-income ratio ties the state average precisely, making it the benchmark for West Virginia renters. The county's median rent of $789 runs $29 above state average, offset by slightly above-average income of $56,193.

Wood balances with Upshur; outpaces Wayne

Wood's $789 rent and 16.9% ratio closely parallel Upshur County ($799, 18.5%), making them regional peers for renters. Both easily beat Wayne's $883 rents while remaining pricier than Wirt ($575) and Wetzel ($703).

Homeownership more burdened than renting

Wood renters dedicate 16.9% of income to rent, while homeowners pay 13.9% of income toward a median owner cost of $653. The median home value of $153,700—the second-highest in this cluster—reflects Wood's more developed housing market and steeper ownership entry costs.

Wood offers typical West Virginia affordability

Relocators seeking a representative West Virginia market should consider Wood County, where rental and ownership costs reflect state-average affordability. The county's median home value and owner costs run higher than rural peers, suggesting it appeals to buyers with stronger income or those seeking urban conveniences.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Wood County

via IncomeByCounty

Wood leads the region toward parity

Wood County's median household income of $56,193 remains $18,562 below the national median of $74,755—a 25% gap, the smallest in this seven-county study. Wood's strong regional performance reflects its larger population, industrial base, and connection to nearby urban centers that boost earning power.

Wood ranks among West Virginia's best

Wood County places in the upper quarter of West Virginia's 55 counties for household income, driven by a per capita income of $33,324—the highest among all seven counties and notably above the state average of $30,335. This leadership position reflects a diversified economy with stronger manufacturing, services, and professional employment.

Clear leader of the regional group

Wood's $56,193 median outpaces all six neighboring counties examined here, running ahead of second-place Wayne ($55,539) by $654 and ahead of Webster by $14,132. Wood's per capita income of $33,324 is the highest in the cluster and reflects a more robust labor market with greater earning opportunities.

Housing stable, not overstretched

Wood's rent-to-income ratio of 16.9% sits comfortably below the 30% threshold, confirming residents aren't burdened by housing costs. A median home value of $153,700—among the region's highest—reflects genuine market demand and suggests property appreciation potential.

Strongest platform for wealth building

Wood County households earning $56,193 enjoy the highest per capita income in the region plus reasonable housing costs, creating an optimal environment for saving and investing. The combination of steady employment, diversified economy, and moderate housing burden gives Wood families the clearest path to long-term wealth accumulation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Wood County

via HealthByCounty

Wood County leads regional health

At 73.4 years, Wood County's life expectancy trails the U.S. average by 3 years but ranks among the best in West Virginia and its region. Just 23.2% report poor or fair health—the second-lowest rate in this county group—indicating better chronic disease management and functional capacity. With 93,000 residents and urban-area infrastructure, Wood provides a model of what stronger health outcomes look like in Appalachia.

West Virginia's health leader

Wood County's 73.4 years exceeds the state average of 72.2 by 1.2 years, making it one of West Virginia's top-performing counties. Its 23.2% poor/fair health rate is among the state's best, reflecting better access to care, higher incomes, and lower unemployment. As the state's most populous county, Wood demonstrates that with adequate healthcare infrastructure and economic vitality, West Virginia residents can achieve better health outcomes.

Regional health standard-bearer

Wood's 73.4 years ranks near the top of this peer group, trailing only Upshur (74.7), and its 23.2% poor/fair health rate is second-best after Wetzel. With 86 primary care providers per 100,000—among the highest access in this group—and 204 mental health providers per 100,000, Wood has infrastructure that neighboring rural counties lack. This disparity reflects urban advantage: population density supports specialist recruitment and practice viability.

Strong access, remaining gaps

Wood's 7.8% uninsured rate is slightly above state average, meaning about 7,200 residents lack coverage despite the county's relative prosperity. With 86 primary care physicians and 204 mental health providers per 100,000, Wood has the strongest provider network in this group, enabling timely preventive and behavioral health care. Daily reality: most Wood County residents can reach care, though pockets of poverty and underinsurance remain.

Close coverage gaps in Wood

Nearly 7,200 Wood County residents are uninsured; visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to find affordable coverage. Wood's strong healthcare infrastructure means once insured, you'll have access to primary care, specialists, and mental health services within reasonable distance. Getting covered also qualifies you for preventive screenings and medications that keep chronic diseases manageable and life expectancy rising.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Wood County

via RiskByCounty

Wood County faces significant disaster risk

Wood County's composite risk score of 79.83 ranks it well above the national average and 62% higher than West Virginia's state average of 49.21. This elevated risk reflects exposure across multiple hazard categories, with particularly severe flood and hurricane vulnerabilities.

Among West Virginia's most vulnerable counties

Wood County ranks in the top tier of West Virginia's 55 counties for natural disaster risk, essentially tied with Wayne County at 79.80 as the state's riskiest communities. The county's multiple hazard exposures create compounding vulnerability that requires serious preparedness attention.

Riskiest county in the immediate region

Wood's 79.83 score substantially exceeds all nearby counties, including Wayne (79.80), Wyoming (67.37), Wetzel (56.90), and Upshur (44.85). This makes Wood an outlier for disaster risk in its Appalachian context, reflecting unique geographic exposure to flooding, earthquakes, and hurricanes.

Flooding, earthquakes, and hurricanes converge

Wood County faces a triple hazard threat: flood risk of 89.60, hurricane risk of 60.03, and earthquake risk of 53.63—all significantly above state averages. These overlapping vulnerabilities create a complex disaster landscape where residents must prepare for water-driven, seismic, and tropical storm threats simultaneously.

Comprehensive insurance is non-negotiable

Wood County residents must secure both flood and comprehensive homeowners insurance immediately, as standard policies leave dangerous coverage gaps given the county's triple hazard exposure. Consider additional earthquake coverage, elevation of critical systems above flood zones, and annual policy reviews to ensure adequate protection levels.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.