The Town FilesBoaz, West Virginia
Community in Wood County · population 1,321 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,500
- Household income
- $72,560
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 47.6
Boaz is a community of 1,321 people in Wood County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $244,500, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for families than 98% of West Virginia towns, better for retirees than 92% of West Virginia towns, more upscale than 83% of West Virginia towns.
How Boaz 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 Boaz is worth $244,500, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $72,560, which is more affordable than 17% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,292 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Boaz | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,500 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $1,292 | $811 |
| Median household income | $72,560 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Boaz
| People | Boaz | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.4% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.9% | 86.7% |
Weather in Boaz
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 23.7°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.7 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boaz since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 21, 2026 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on February 27, 2023.
Severe weather in Wood County since 1996
Wood County has been included in 18 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 |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2018 | Mud/Landslide | DR-4359: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Wood County
Wood County had 35,511 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,626 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Boaz itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Boaz
- Williamstown, WV2.7 mi · 2,997 people · home $182,500
- North Hills, WV3.9 mi · 834 people · home $258,900
- Vienna, WV3.9 mi · 10,652 people · home $154,300
- Marietta, OH4.4 mi · 13,385 people · home $161,800
- Reno, OH5.2 mi · 1,129 people · home $213,800
- Devola, OH7.4 mi · 2,639 people · home $235,800
- Parkersburg, WV8.0 mi · 29,738 people · home $121,600
- Belpre, OH8.3 mi · 6,728 people · home $159,000
Boaz questions
Is Boaz, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Boaz scores better for retirees than 92% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 78%. 30.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.6).
How much does a house cost in Boaz?
The median owner-occupied home in Boaz is valued at $244,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,560, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,292 a month.
What is the weather like in Boaz?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 23.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 21.7 inches of snow.
Does Boaz get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Boaz since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 21, 2026. 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)