The Town FilesCameron, West Virginia
City in Marshall County · population 861 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $65,000
- Household income
- $43,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 50.8
Cameron is a city of 861 people in Marshall County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $65,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of West Virginia towns, quieter than 87% of West Virginia towns, more of a college town than 78% of West Virginia towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in West Virginia
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in West Virginia
- #17 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #17 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #21 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in West Virginia
How Cameron 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 Cameron is worth $65,000, below the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $43,750, which is more affordable than 92% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $439 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cameron | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $65,000 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $439 | $811 |
| Median household income | $43,750 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Cameron
| People | Cameron | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.8 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.6% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Cameron
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 19.7°F. About 46.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.2 inches of snow (typical West Virginia town: 23.8 in). Expect about 22 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 Cameron since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 29, 2021 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 29, 2016.
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 Cameron itself the ACS puts it at 14%.
Public schools in Cameron
2 public schools with 523 students, about 9.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron High School | 6-12 | 298 | 8.5 |
| Cameron Elementary School | PK-5 | 225 | 10.7 |
Towns near Cameron
- Richhill, PA8.4 mi · 775 people · home $157,700
- Moundsville, WV11.1 mi · 8,093 people · home $118,600
- Glen Dale, WV12.7 mi · 1,496 people · home $208,800
- Powhatan Point, OH12.9 mi · 1,461 people · home $109,900
- Shadyside, OH13.7 mi · 3,454 people · home $143,100
- McMechen, WV13.8 mi · 1,697 people · home $96,900
- West Finley, PA14.1 mi · 813 people · home $225,000
- Benwood, WV14.7 mi · 1,252 people · home $74,900
Cameron questions
Is Cameron, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cameron scores better for retirees than 99% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 87%. 27.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.8).
How much does a house cost in Cameron?
The median owner-occupied home in Cameron is valued at $65,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,750, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $439 a month.
What is the weather like in Cameron?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 19.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 18.2 inches of snow.
Does Cameron get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cameron since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 29, 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)