The Town FilesBenwood, West Virginia
City in Marshall County · population 1,252 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $74,900
- Household income
- $43,636
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 51.6
Benwood is a city of 1,252 people in Marshall County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $74,900, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks more of a college town than 96% of West Virginia towns, better transit than 91% of West Virginia towns, more walkable than 90% of West Virginia towns.
How Benwood 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 Benwood is worth $74,900, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $43,636, which is more affordable than 87% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $677 a month. 63.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benwood | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,900 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $677 | $811 |
| Median household income | $43,636 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.3% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benwood
| People | Benwood | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.4% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.3% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 86.7% |
Weather in Benwood
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 41.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benwood since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 21, 2021 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 21, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 24, 2024 | Flood | DR-4787: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 22, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Marshall County
Marshall County had 10,545 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,055 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Benwood itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Benwood
- Bellaire, OH1.2 mi · 3,870 people · home $85,400
- McMechen, WV1.3 mi · 1,697 people · home $96,900
- Shadyside, OH2.5 mi · 3,454 people · home $143,100
- Bethlehem, WV3.9 mi · 2,605 people · home $200,000
- Glen Dale, WV4.2 mi · 1,496 people · home $208,800
- Bridgeport, OH4.3 mi · 1,582 people · home $94,200
- Brookside, OH4.9 mi · 538 people · home $117,000
- Neffs, OH5.1 mi · 878 people · home $84,500
Benwood questions
Is Benwood, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benwood scores better for retirees than 50% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 29%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Benwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Benwood is valued at $74,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,636, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $677 a month.
What is the weather like in Benwood?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.9 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Benwood get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 21, 2021. 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)