You might also look at working in Pittsburgh if you can find a place in the northern panhandle of the state. Northern Virginia's taxes are a little better but the general cost of living isn't much of an improvement. You will receive your first email soon. There really is something for the entire family. Charleston, West Virginia is a small city, with a population just under 50,000, which means that no matter where you’re living or staying while visiting, nothing is too far away. 6. The problem is that all things are not equal. 1 decade ago. There are plenty of homes priced under $100,000 as well. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: Like at Harpers Ferry, the scene of John Brown's Raid, one of the triggering events of the Civil War. It is a fair comparison to put Seattle and West Virginia into the same conversation for the weather. However, this only applies if you're moving to the rural areas. When I was a West Virginia lad of 17, I met a Massachusetts lad of 42 by the name of John F. Kennedy. We love our Wild and Wonderful mountain state. You can enjoy some of these benefits if you are willing to do a little commuting to find a job from outside of the area. This issue can become very significant in the rural areas of the state. Head out to Blackwater Falls State Park to see colorful hills that stretch to the horizon as you explore the many wonders that Appalachia offers. The town is situated between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. Thank you! Although the state sits right up next to the East Coast, you’ll experience more of a mid-continental climate when you start living here. It also has one of the worst commuting experiences in the state. West Virginia is also a leading energy-producing state with rich natural resources. Here are some reasons why they might not want to move here (but reasons that we love it). If you decide to live in Morgantown, Beckley, or Martinsburg, you’ll pay about 50% less than that. So when you plan your trip to the Summit, schedule a few extra days to enjoy the area. Residents are quick to note that the road infrastructure could do with improvements but its’ a small price to pay for living in the best neighbourhood in West Virginia. The formation of West Virginia came about during the middle of the Civil War. The job market in West Virginia can be somewhat challenging. The population in West Virginia is 1,836,843. The reality of this state is that there is a rich immigration history. West Virginia is one of the best places to be on the planet when the autumn season arrives. A low cost of living is not always a great thing to have at home. The unemployment rate is still quite high, but proactive planning can help you to solve this issue relatively easily. TOP 10 LIST: LIVING IN WEST VIRGINIA ABSOLUTE, DEFINITIVE GUIDE ON HOW TO BE A REAL WEST VIRGINIAN! Look for communities where there is more sunshine, lower in the mountains, to avoid that issue if it is bothersome to you. Entire communities were built up around the coal industry, so now dollar stores are starting to outnumber the churches. Living in west virginia with brown roots football shirt Published January 9, 2019 at 960 × 960 in Living in west virginia with brown roots football shirt Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment . We provide several metrics to compare the cost of living including cost of groceries, transportation, and more. 13 Reasons Living In West Virginia Is The Best – And Everyone Should Move Here. It’s illegal to marry your first cousin in this state, but it is legal to do so in New York and California. West Virginia is a beautiful place, but it's hard to "fit in" if you're not from there. You will always have the presence of the mountains in the background as well. With the lack of demand for this natural resource, the jobs that come with it have been disappearing rapidly. You Can Spend The Night At A Pick-Your-Own Strawberry Farm In West Virginia, And The Breakfasts Are So Tasty, Sanford And Wife Antiques In West Virginia Is Stuffed To The Brim With Treasures Galore, Alderson Is A Small Town In West Virginia That Offers Plenty Of Peace And Quiet, West Virginia Leads The Nation When It Comes To Efficiently Distributing The COVID-19 Vaccine, 12 Reasons Why West Virginia Is The BEST State, 11 Reasons We Are Thankful For Living In West Virginia, 12 Amazing Things People In West Virginia Just Can’t Live Without, 14 Reasons Why West Virginia Is The Most Underrated State In The US, The 11 Places You Should Eat In West Virginia In 2017, Visit These 4 Charming Tea Rooms In West Virginia For A Piece Of The Past, This Quaint Little Trail Is The Shortest And Sweetest Hike In West Virginia, The Largest Quilt Shop In West Virginia Is Truly A Sight To See, This 3-Mile Hike In West Virginia Takes You Through An Enchanting Forest, Walk Through A Sea Of Wildflowers At The West Virginia Core Aboretum Spring Flower Festival. While we have a lot of natural beauty, the people here really are our best natural resource. Violent crime is also higher in West Virginia than the average rate in the United States. The entire area sits in the Appalachian Mountains, which means about 75% of the area is covered in forests. Love West Virginia? 5.2K likes. From white water rafting the New and Gauley rivers to rock climbing and zip lining, there's no shortage of adventure in the Mountain State. Don’t expect a lot of invitations to birthday parties or social engagements. 2. Folks will give you a lot of grief because of not being from WV. You’ll see lush growth in your gardens and forests because of the weather, but a series of gray days can begin to wear on the soul. Like Charleston and Huntington. You’ll want to stop to enjoy the view from the New River Gorge Bridge after moving here. That means everything is cheaper, but it also creates a job market where wages are lower too. My bottom line is this: It’s true that West Virginia is “Wild and Wonderful!” Come experience it for yourself. When other states were tuning their guitars or playing their pianos, residents in West Virginia were breaking out the fiddles, dulcimers, and banjos. 4. You’ll get to live where the bluegrass genre began. Despite the desire not to separate from the Union, West Virginia contributed about an equal number of troops to both sides of the conflict. There are a lot of reasons West Virginia is a great place to live. What are the pros and cons of living in West Virginia (I'm a native Washingtonian from Seattle) For many reasons, I am looking to move sometime from Washington State. Recent job growth is Positive. You will find that because the economy is behind the rest of the country in its development, there are some social issues that can be problematic for you after moving here. Its main highway is I-81, which gives you easy access to neighboring cities and Washington, D.C., itself. Virginia is famous for certain foods, including crab, oysters, ham, peanuts and apples, as well as Southern classics such as fried chicken. 2020 Places with the Lowest Cost of Living in West Virginia About this List Explore the cheapest places to live in America relative to income. West Virginia is the only state to essentially succeed from the Confederacy. There are plenty of outdoor adventures to find in West Virginia. Because the population centers are relatively small, the tax base for services is lower in West Virginia than in other parts of the country. Home Appreciation in West Virginia is up 4.4%. COST OF LIVING Compared to the rest of the country, West Virginia's cost of living is 21.9% lower than the U.S. average. Some communities may not fully accept you after you move. There can even be changes that bring out this disadvantage if you cross a county line. As the United States and the rest of the world begin to move away from coal energy, the job market in West Virginia has seen numerous adverse changes. The current unemployment rate in the state hovers about three full percentage points above the national average. But that's not a bad thing. Like this party we threw in 2013 for our 150th birthday. is 3.7%). It is 14% cheaper to live here than average in the United States. The lower real estate costs can save you some money here too, but that also means there are fewer funds available for public services.