The Town FilesAnsted, West Virginia
Town in Fayette County · population 1,303 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,700
- Household income
- $38,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 43.5
Ansted is a town of 1,303 people in Fayette County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $68,700, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks quieter than 70% of West Virginia towns, better transit than 70% of West Virginia towns.
How Ansted ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ansted is worth $68,700, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $38,375, which is more affordable than 84% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $988 a month. 71.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ansted | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,700 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $988 | $811 |
| Median household income | $38,375 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ansted
| People | Ansted | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.2% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 37.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.0% | 86.7% |
Weather in Ansted
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.6 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ansted since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 2, 2024 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 29, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 23, 2019.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4953: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| November 28, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4679: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 10,265 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,615 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Ansted itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Ansted
1 public school with 195 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ansted Elementary | PK-5 | 195 | 17.7 |
Towns near Ansted
- Fayetteville, WV4.9 mi · 2,887 people · home $184,000
- Gauley Bridge, WV6.2 mi · 553 people · home $66,500
- Boomer, WV9.4 mi · 599 people · home —
- Smithers, WV10.7 mi · 754 people · home $76,500
- Oak Hill, WV11.5 mi · 8,179 people · home $118,700
- Montgomery, WV12.0 mi · 1,275 people · home $133,000
- Hilltop, WV13.8 mi · 528 people · home $56,300
- Mount Hope, WV16.9 mi · 1,125 people · home $101,000
Ansted questions
Is Ansted, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ansted scores better for retirees than 7% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 70%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Ansted?
The median owner-occupied home in Ansted is valued at $68,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,375, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $988 a month.
What is the weather like in Ansted?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 64.6 inches of snow.
Does Ansted get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ansted since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 2, 2024. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)