These Are The 10 Most Successful Cities In West Virginia

Top 10 Most Successful Cities in West Virginia (2026)

Success can mean different things to different people. Is it defined by your financial wealth, the satisfaction of delivering an engaging presentation, or perhaps the joy of sharing a laugh with friends? Or is it something broader and more subjective that can’t easily be quantified?

At Zippia, we focus on measurable factors to determine success. Using reliable data, we’ve identified the 10 most successful cities in West Virginia based on key economic indicators. Here’s our updated list for 2026:

Disagree with our rankings? Read on for the reasoning behind our choices.

For more insights on West Virginia, check out:

How We Determined the Most Successful Cities in West Virginia

When we think about success, financial metrics often come to mind. However, we believe that success encompasses more than just wealth. To arrive at our rankings, we analyzed a range of economic indicators from the most recent American Community Survey data.

1. Bridgeport

Source: Flickr

Population: 8,316 Median Income: $80,240
Poverty Level: 3.0%
Unemployment Rate: 6.2%

2. Hurricane

Population: 6,352 Median Income: $57,044
Poverty Level: 7.7%
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%

3. Nitro

Population: 6,860 Median Income: $45,353
Poverty Level: 13.6%
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

4. South Charleston

Population: 13,380 Median Income: $44,610
Poverty Level: 12.6%
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

5. St. Albans

Population: 10,939 Median Income: $47,134
Poverty Level: 7.8%
Unemployment Rate: 6.5%

6. Vienna

Population: 10,654 Median Income: $42,055
Poverty Level: 9.1%
Unemployment Rate: 6.2%

7. Charles Town

Population: 5,464 Median Income: $59,503
Poverty Level: 12.0%
Unemployment Rate: 9.7%

8. Charleston

Population: 50,911 Median Income: $48,959
Poverty Level: 18.4%
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%

9. Weirton

Population: 19,523 Median Income: $39,326
Poverty Level: 14.9%
Unemployment Rate: 6.7%

10. Bluefield

Population: 10,465 Median Income: $35,354
Poverty Level: 18.9%
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%

Measuring Success

If you’re questioning whether these metrics can truly define a city’s success, you’re not alone. While our approach may seem simplistic, we believe it’s a solid starting point for understanding economic health. Congratulations to Bridgeport and our other top cities! For those that didn’t make the list, there’s always next year.

Detailed List of the Most Successful Cities in West Virginia

Rank	City	Median Income	Poverty Rate	Unemployment Rate
1	Bridgeport	$80,240	3.0%	6.2%
2	Hurricane	$57,044	7.7%	6.0%
3	Nitro	$45,353	13.6%	2.6%
4	South Charleston	$44,610	12.6%	4.0%
5	St. Albans	$47,134	7.8%	6.5%
6	Vienna	$42,055	9.1%	6.2%
7	Charles Town	$59,503	12.0%	9.7%
8	Charleston	$48,959	18.4%	6.6%
9	Weirton	$39,326	14.9%	6.7%
10	Bluefield	$35,354	18.9%	4.9%
11	Fairmont	$36,731	21.8%	5.9%
12	New Martinsville	$39,028	18.1%	6.8%
13	Wheeling	$36,085	18.5%	6.1%
14	Dunbar	$40,823	14.6%	9.4%
15	Clarksburg	$36,353	17.9%	7.8%
16	Elkins	$41,087	21.8%	9.9%
17	Oak Hill	$38,253	22.5%	8.3%
18	Beckley	$33,616	25.3%	7.9%
19	Parkersburg	$33,247	22.9%	10.5%
20	Princeton	$30,523	25.2%	9.1%
21	Martinsburg	$36,736	26.3%	14.3%
22	Morgantown	$32,400	43.5%	8.1%
23	Moundsville	$31,070	23.7%	10.2%
24	Buckhannon	$28,286	28.6%	8.6%
25	Grafton	$28,460	22.8%	13.0%
26	Huntington	$28,673	32.6%	9.0%
27	Keyser	$23,936	29.5%	18.5%

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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