The Town FilesBolivar, West Virginia
Town in Jefferson County · population 1,036 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $251,600
- Household income
- $83,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 39.3
Bolivar is a town of 1,036 people in Jefferson County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $251,600, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of West Virginia towns, better for first-time buyers than 100% of West Virginia towns, better transit than 98% of West Virginia towns.
How Bolivar 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 Bolivar is worth $251,600, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $83,068, which is more affordable than 29% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,505 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bolivar | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $251,600 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $1,505 | $811 |
| Median household income | $83,068 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Bolivar
| People | Bolivar | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 36.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Bolivar
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 21.1°F. About 43.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolivar since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 19, 1996 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 26, 2002.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 19 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 |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4378: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3358: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 17,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,812 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Bolivar itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Towns near Bolivar
- Shenandoah Junction, WV4.9 mi · 635 people · home $192,900
- Brunswick, MD6.8 mi · 7,762 people · home $374,500
- Lovettsville, VA7.0 mi · 2,694 people · home $543,700
- Ranson corporation, WV7.1 mi · 5,433 people · home $242,700
- Shepherdstown, WV8.0 mi · 1,531 people · home $485,200
- Charles Town, WV8.1 mi · 6,534 people · home $377,700
- Shannondale, WV8.3 mi · 3,487 people · home $293,600
- Sharpsburg, MD9.2 mi · 560 people · home $304,100
Bolivar questions
Is Bolivar, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bolivar scores better for retirees than 100% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 53%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Bolivar?
The median owner-occupied home in Bolivar is valued at $251,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,068, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,505 a month.
What is the weather like in Bolivar?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 21.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does Bolivar get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bolivar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 19, 1996. 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)