The Town FilesBuckhannon, West Virginia
City in Upshur County · population 5,186 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,100
- Household income
- $54,615
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 32.8
Buckhannon is a city of 5,186 people in Upshur County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $158,100, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 95% of West Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 94% of West Virginia towns.
How Buckhannon 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 Buckhannon is worth $158,100, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $54,615, which is more affordable than 33% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $885 a month. 62.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buckhannon | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,100 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $885 | $811 |
| Median household income | $54,615 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 62.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Buckhannon
| People | Buckhannon | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.0% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.4% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.7% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Buckhannon
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 21.1°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.4 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Buckhannon since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 27, 2014 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 4, 2025.
Severe weather in Upshur County since 1996
Upshur County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Flood | DR-4932: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 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 |
| June 25, 2016 | Flood | DR-4273: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Upshur County
Upshur County had 7,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,466 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Buckhannon itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Buckhannon
8 public schools with 3,225 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckhannon Upshur High School | 9-12 | 1,120 | 17.2 |
| B-u Middle School | 6-8 | 742 | 15.1 |
| Buckhannon Academy Elementary School | PK-5 | 517 | 15.7 |
| Tennerton Elementary | PK-5 | 304 | 21.7 |
| Union Elementary School | PK-5 | 258 | 16.1 |
| Hodgesville Elementary | PK-5 | 163 | 23.3 |
| Washington District Elementary | PK-5 | 121 | 15.1 |
| Fred W Eberle Tech Center | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Buckhannon
- Weston, WV13.0 mi · 3,952 people · home $105,300
- Philippi, WV14.3 mi · 2,929 people · home $114,500
- Clarksburg, WV20.5 mi · 16,061 people · home $129,900
- Elkins, WV20.7 mi · 6,934 people · home $152,700
- Bridgeport, WV21.5 mi · 9,336 people · home $291,600
- Grafton, WV26.6 mi · 4,722 people · home $74,600
Buckhannon questions
Is Buckhannon, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buckhannon scores better for retirees than 28% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 4%. 14.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Buckhannon?
The median owner-occupied home in Buckhannon is valued at $158,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,615, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $885 a month.
What is the weather like in Buckhannon?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 21.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 39.4 inches of snow.
Does Buckhannon get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Buckhannon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 27, 2014. 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)